Plans to open medical practice in garage of house near Stourbridge rejected following 30 objections
Plans to convert the garage of a house in a quiet cul-de-sac have been rejected after sparking 30 complaints.
Dr Prabhat Sood had applied to convert the double garage at 27, The Stewponey in Stourton, near Stourbridge, for use as a medical treatment room.
But South Staffordshire Council has rejected the plans following complaints from residents.
Dr Sood said he wanted to convert the garage at the four-bedroom detached house to provide medical treatments on an appointment-only basis, with a maximum of two patients per day.
The garage would have its own separate access and contain a treatment room, store and toilet.
He said he worked for a private healthcare company, and wanted to use the building for the treatment of 'disease, disorder and injury'.
Dr Sood said the practice would have operated from 7pm to 9pm from Monday to Friday, and from 2pm to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
He said appointments would have been scheduled for a maximum 30 minutes each, with 30-minute intervals between them to reduce parking pressures. Clinical waste would have been disposed of in lockable bins, and there would have been no signs on the building.
A council planning officer said 30 residents had expressed concerns, including noise and disruption in a quiet residential area, and a notable change in the character of the neighbourhood, with commercial activity at what would normally be quiet times.
Fears were also expressed about a lack of parking and a potential increase in crime or security, with medical goods stored on site.
It was alleged that the commercial waste bin had already been delivered.
Councillor Paul Harrison voiced concerns about potential traffic problems.
"This area cannot cope with any additional traffic or parking," he said. "I do note the suggested limit of two visitors per day, however, in practice this would be impossible to enforce or regulate.
"Even two visitors per day would mean additional traffic and additional parking than that currently available would be required."
Mrs Moon said the proposed site was not in a sustainable location.
"The changes to the property, ie creation of an additional door, commercial waste bin and collections, and the comings and goings associated with the proposed development would adversely change the character and appearance of the residential area."
