FREE - Champion Newspapers

The Champion • Wednesday 19 June 2013KVisit us @ www.ChampNews.com • 11Council hit backat MP in rowover planningReport by Henry JamesWEST Lancs Council bosses have hit back atclaims that they are failing local residentsbecause the planning department doesn’t haveenough staff to deal with enforcement.The accusation came from Labour MP RosieCooper who said that spending cuts andlong–term sickness had left the departmentwith just one enforcement officer who wasunable to deal with the case load.However, a council spokesman said theplanning enforcement team was now “back tofull strength” and claimed that the temporarystaff shortage had “no impact on thedetermination of planning applications.”Ms Cooper said: “ In a letter to me, theBorough Planner admitted that complaintswere taking longer to fully investigate andresolve.”The MP added that she had been contacted bya number of West Lancashire residents whohad been in touch with the council to reportplanning breaches only to be told that thecouncil can’t deal with them at present.She continued: “What is the point in WestLancashire Borough Council setting planningconditions if it doesn’t have the capability toenforce them? How many more planningbreaches will developers be able to get awaywith just because the borough council has rundown yet another one of their services?“The planning department is one of the onlyservices run by the borough council thatgenerates income. Failure to maintain thisservice will result in lost revenue for theborough council and send out the message thatWest Lancashire is closed for business and thatit will be easier to break planning regulationsand get away with it.”A council spokesman responded: “Whilst theinvestigation of alleged breaches of planningcontrol is a non–statutory function, the counciltakes such complaints very seriously.“When the officer went on sick leave thecouncil created a temporary enforcementofficer post. When the occupier of this post leftthe authority after seven months to take upanother position, the post was re–advertised.“The team was short–staffed for threemonths and during that time the council had toprioritise investigations as a short termmeasure. Now the team is back to full strengthwe are investigating all complaints of allegedbreaches of planning control.“Being one member of staff down in theenforcement team had no impact on thedetermination of planning applications. Nordid it have a detrimental impact on the feeincome which in 2012/13 was significantlyhigher than the previous year.“The actions of the council in appointing atemporary enforcement officer and the highpercentage of planning approvalsdemonstrates the council’s commitment toinvestigating alleged breaches of planningcontrol and that West Lancashire is open forbusiness.”Westgate Carpets & BlindsTHINKING OF BUYING ACARPET OR BLINDS?CHOOSE IN YOUR OWN HOMEAll carpets fi tted FREE with FREE underlayand FREE grippers and doorplatesAll work guaranteed • All makes suppliedNobody beats our service or our pricesWe will uplift your carpet and move furnitureFREE OF CHARGECall 01695 558 230Mobile 07720 297 527www.westgatecarpetsandblinds.co.ukUNIT 15 & 16 · WESTGATE INDUSTRIAL ESTATESKELMERSDALE · WN8 8AZ1116837Give your favouriteCane Furniture a makeoverwith our fast and affordableCUSHIONREPLACEMENT SERVICEOPEN MON - SAT 10am-5pm• SUN 10am-4pm • CLOSED WEDCANEFURNITUREUK’S BEST PRICESGUARANTEED!3 PIECE SUITES FROM £399PLUSUP TORRP £699WAS£599PLUSUP TO50% OFFSELECTED CANE PRODUCTSNOWSHERIDEN£399NOW £39950% OFFSELECTED CANE PRODUCTSCONICOOAKFURNITURE20% OFFSELECTED SOLID OA KAMAZINGDINING DEALSIN SOLID OAKFROM ONLY £595PINEFURNITURE10%OFFALL PINE FURNITUREIN STORE ANDMADE TO MEASUREPLUS• LAMP TABLES• FOOT STOOLSFROM £49FROM £29• SINGLE CHAIRS FROM £99Platts LaneBurscoughL40 7TETel: 01704 895376www.thecopshopuk.comORMSKIRKA59PLATTS LANETHEBURSCOUGHSHOPPARBOLDA5209Free ParkingRRP £999WAS£899NOW£599 SPECIAL OFFERNOW £599BAYONNE FRENCH OAKINTRODUCTORY OFFER PRICES10% OFFPLUS ASPECIAL OFFERFURTHERPRICES STILL APPLYMASSIVE 5,000 SQ FTSHOWROOM PACKEDWITH GENUINELOW LOW PRICES!!MASSIVE DISCOUNTS DIRECT FROM THE IMPORTERS1119969