PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have agreed to let a father keep an unauthorised lay-by outside his home after hearing it provides a safe place for his disabled son to be picked up by a school bus.
The lay-by had been constructed without planning consent in Bank Street, Glazebrook and the borough’s development management committee was being urged to refuse a retrospective planning application.
Planning officers recommended refusal, highways chiefs objected on the grounds of inadequate visibility and Rixton with Glazebrook Parish Council objected on Green Belt grounds.
But after a lengthy debate, the committee voted to allow the application.
Borough councillor Pat Wright had urged them to consider the “serious detrimental impact” refusal would have on the quality of life of the both the father and his eight-year-old son.
The committee was told the applicant had three children, one of which suffers from various disabilities.
The area of hardstanding created allowed the family to park a second vehicle off road, provided a safe boarding area when the school bus called and allowed a carer to park off-road overnight.
Planning officers argued that the development was inappropriate in the Green Belt. Although the personal circumstances of an applicant could be taken in account they were seldom sufficient to amount to the very special circumstances necessary for approval in the Green Belt.
The removal of trees and shrubs from the site had made it more prominent in the Green Belt and “urbanised” the area.
A letter of support for the applicant was received from the school his son attends
The lay-by - now legitimate
Father wins fight for safe bus stop for disabled son
22 Comments
2 Comments
Good News! The parents of this boy should be commended for their efforts in ensuring that their son has his needs met. All Good Luck to this family! Well done! to the boy’s school and Cllr Pat Wright for their support.
WBC planning officers should ashamed for recommending refusal – especially given the often weak excuses they give as constituting “very special circumstances” for recommending approval for developers to build on greenbelt.
Thank you for the supportive comment. It was a long battle and one that began in earnest – completing the land registry search, contacting the land owners and asking permission. It was granted and I set about creating the space.
It was only a month later that the land owner was contacted by WBC informing them of an illegal development following a complaint by a local resident.
After 6 months of emails, Planning application, meetings, calls and even more emails that things were finally passed. Councillor Pat Wright not only provided her support through the correct channels, but also displayed a huge amount of understanding and compassion. We couldn’t have got through it without her – an amazing lady with the true interests of the community at heart.