| Topic: | Failure to Display Public Notice on Planning Application | |
| Posted by: | Victor Mishiku | |
| Date/Time: | 14/05/21 21:38:00 |
| Ever since Ealing Planning Department stopped sending out Notification Letters giving 21 days in which to respond to planning applications nearby, the system of putting up the yellow Public Notices on lampposts has been less than perfect. Disregarding instances where developers have likely pulled them down, the Planning Department itself has not always acted sensibly to ensure that affected neighbours know what it being proposed at close proximity. In a case in Rotherwick Hill (part of the Haymills Estate in Ealing W5), an unneighbourly play tower & platform was erected without planning permission. Eventually, planning applications were made but the Council did not put up any Notices in the road where the adjoining back garden of an Ashbourne Close neighbour would be badly affected and where the neighbour had previously complained about the unauthorised structure overlooking their garden. Because no yellow Public Notice was put up in Ashbourne Close, the most affected neighbour was unaware of the latest application and therefore did not write in within the usual 21 days - only finding out that an Appeal to The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) had been lodged months later. Because the neighbour had not filed an objection at first instance, the rules did not allow her to respond to the Appeal! The writer contacted PINS to explain the situation which was made worse as the Appellant's Planning Consultants were stressing that the neighbour had not objected at first instance and therefore there was no problem! PINS however were not satisfied that natural justice was being observed and ruled that the affected neighbour should be allowed to make her objections. The Appeal was dismissed by PINS yesterday - please see at: https://www.dropbox.com/preview/AppealDecisionDismissedByPINS.13thMay2021.pdf?role=personal This result vindicates the objection of the neighbour in Ashbourne Close - the road in which the Planning Department failed to put up a Public Notice! V.Mishiku - "The Covenant Movement" vmfree@madasafish.com |