Council to act over planning breach

PLANNING bosses at Warrington are being asked to authorise formal enforcement action against a scaffolding firm which angered nearby residents when it erected a large industrial building without planning consent.
Borough council officers discovered the unauthorised development at Forward Works, Bridge Lane, Woolston in January after complaints were received about a big increase in vehicle movements to and from the site.
Now officers have set a final deadline for a valid planning application to be submitted – October 31.
They want the borough council’s planning sub-committee to authorise immediate enforcement action if the deadline is not met.
The council has been attempting to get an industrial scaffolding hire firm operating from the site to formalise its use of the premises since January after the first complaints were received.
A large industrial building, palisade fence and a number of portable buildings have been erected on the site without planning permission.
A council spokesman said: “It would appear there is scope to attempt to regularise the development through the planning application process.”
A retrospective application was received but withdrawn in July because of the lack of a flood risk assessment. An assurance was given that a revised application would be submitted, but the due date has passed.
After a number of reminders, agents for the company has blamed delays in getting a flood risk assessment from the Environment Agency.
The spokesman added: “Local residents continue to be concerned about the use and continue to raise the matter with the local councillors.
“We have made it clear to the operators that the deadline of October 31 is final and the council will consider enforcement action if the revised application is not submitted.”