Angry dentist hits out at town planners and NIMBY neighbours after expansion plans blocked

AN angry dentist has hit out at town planners after having his expansion plans blocked for a second time due to “NIMBY” neighbours at Grappenhall, Warrington.

the proposal involves a single storey side extension to replace existing car port/storage area at Grappenhall Dental Practice on Knutsford Road, Grappenhall to provide an additional treatment room.
While there were eight letters of objection to the proposal there were 22 letters of support.
Those supporting the application said there was a demand for access to a dentist particularly with the development of 300+ houses in Grappenhall. The existing premises were invaluable, beneficial and first rate service to community. They also stated they had not experienced parking problems.
But those objecting said increased patient numbers and increased traffic in Georges Crescent, Nicholl Street and Knutsford Road, would result in noise and disturbance, inconsiderate parking, blocked driveways and inconvenience, to the detriment of residential amenity.
The double parking continues up the crescent and left into Nicholl Street. An additional consulting room will escalate existing problems of parking in residential roads.
Stationary vehicles parked up with engines running for long periods whilst waiting for people using the businesses, spewing out fumes. All of this noise, pollution and bad parking affects quality of life.
Applicant and local dentist Andy Brown said he was “dismayed” by the latest refusal.
“The initial application was rejected due to insufficient information pertaining to the parking issues. In this initial application I gave the council estimates of the increase in patient numbers , the expected increase in parking , parking surveys and photographs showing the lack of parking issues. This wasnt enough and they basically accused me of lying and disregarded the information I had provided. They didnt even realise that I already had 3 surgeries and was applying for the 4th ! They thought i was doubling the size of the practice !
“For the second application ( for which i was advised to re-apply rather than appeal) I contracted the services of an independent specialist transport consultant ( at considerable expense) to provide a more detailed review of the parking situation and highlight the capacity that is easily accessible for further expansion. I assumed that the council would be more amenable to an independent specialist consultant – I assumed wrongly.
“They have still decided that all the extra information, which confirms the information I initially gave them, is insufficient and they said ‘it carries little or no weight’.
“I asked the council for more time to provide even more of the data they specifically needed and they refused and proceeded to reject the application.
The planning officer involved said and i quote ‘ you could commission further studies or statements/responses however this might still not have overcome the highways / residential amenity objections’ . Might not ! It may or may not have overcome the issues but i should have been given the chance.
“It seems like their mind had been made up , and that anything i did wasnt going to change it ?”
“The council’s understanding of the application is littered with inaccuracies and false assumptions. The planning officer has commented that in her opinion my business has outgrown the property and I should relocate !!
“I’m sorry but isnt a planning officer supposed to base decisions on the facts and evidence submitted – not their own personal opinion ??
“I have indeed outgrown the size of my current practice which is exactly why im trying to extend ! The service we provide is a much needed, essential, unequalled, community benefit – and they want me to close it and relocate elsewhere ??
No other dentist in Warrington serves the community as we do – we still provide dental services independently at very similar prices to the NHS , we still see children free of charge ( with no NHS funding !).
“We are still able to provide disabled /elderly downstairs access which due to a ageing population is becoming more and more needed. NHS dentistry is still in turmoil with access very difficult.
Fully private dentistry is getting very expensive which people cant afford in the current cost of living crisis. A further downstairs surgery would help us to increase this essential service to the increasing population of Warrington.
“The same few Nimby residents in Georges crescent are still making their voices heard and the council are listening despite the overwhelmingly larger number of letters of support for the application.
“The parking situation is not an issue, has been greatly exaggerated, falsely depicted and even blatantly staged by these few residents.
“It seems my best way forward is to appeal as this would go to an independent commission thereby bypassing whatever personal opinion , external influence is being applied by the council !
“With an increasing need, increasing population and excellent service provided by my practice ( at no expense to the council / government) it is an absolute disgrace that my plans for expansion are being blocked by a few disgruntled residents.”
But Warrington Borough Council planners rejected the application saying that whilst the general principle of development was acceptable, it was considered that the proposed development at the application site would adversely affect residential amenity and the Highway network.