Planners accused of 'pulling the wool over councillors’ eyes' in row over Dudley flats plan

Councillor Bryn Challenor made the allegation during a meeting of the authority’s Planning Committee on Wednesday (September 3) as members considered an application for a change of use to convert a single dwelling into four flats.

Officers recommended approval of the revised proposal, which had been deferred from a previous meeting, but Councillor Challenor insisted the design did not meet council standards.

Councillor Challenor said: “The main issues are parking and highway safety on entry and exit; last time officers informed us parking met standards, once again my concerns have not been addressed.

“You are pulling the wool over the committee’s eyes.”

The application, for a property on Himley Road in Dudley, included four parking spaces.

Councillor Challenor said the layout was unacceptable and drivers would be forced to park on the street near a junction which had recently been the scene of a serious car accident.

Dudley development manager, Joanne Todd, told Councillor Challenor: “Information has been submitted, officers have checked it and they are satisfied.

“On how standards could be applied; not necessarily every one will comply – this is guidance.

“Planning is a balance of multiple things, we have to attach different weight to different things, it is not straightforward.”

Councillor Challenor said: “There is no point having standards if you don’t follow standards.”

The panel voted by a majority of three to two to reject the application on the grounds it did not meet Dudley’s parking standards, despite warnings from officers an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate may be difficult to defend.

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Challenor said: “I’m pleased, if standards had been met I would have no problem with it.

“We need to go by standards, they are there for a reason.