HELP - No Planning Permission for Car Park

[Mr H]

Hello all

I'm hoping that someone could be kind enough to give me some advice.

A car park was built opposite my house a few years ago, to accommodate parking for local football matches on the nearby playing field. Since it was built, no football matches have been played, as the local football team moved to another location before the car park was finished. The car park has only brought a barrage of anti social behaviour.

Part of the playing field was ripped up to put in the gravel car park. A haven for donughting cars.

It has just been discovered that the car park was built without any form of planning permission. On top of that, the car park was built from instruction from the local councillor. No public consultation was ever offered, and it certainly feels that the councillor has abused his position to have it built.


Kind regards

Mr H

[ostell]

C9ontact your councillor

[islandgirl]

Absolutely. If you feel there has been wrongdoing make a complaint to the Standards Committee. Report the car park for being contrary to planning - ask who is paying business rates on it...

[Mr H]

Thank you for your quick replies.

I have emailed my local councillor many times, but he has not once acknowledged me. I had complained about the anti-social behaviour to him about a year ago, and then a month later a "dummy" CCTV was erected. I have spoken with the police, and they confirmed that he is aware of the problems with the car park. The anti-social behaviour however has continued. I have had no engagement with him at all. I believe that he's shirking any responsibility, and hopes it'll blow over.

The car park was funded by the 'Pride in the Community' which funnily enough is a scheme ran by the local council, but still they didn't bother getting planning permission. No consideration was given to those who live in the vicinity.

I am planning to report him for his behaviour, and not abiding to his code of conduct. I am also planning to report the breach in the planning too. I just hope that I'm doing the right thing about it.


Kind regards


Mr H

[des8]

Two issues aspects that might require planning permission.

The first is a "Change of Use" from a playing field to a car park.
Was the field used regularly as a car park? If so this could be classed as "retrospective" permission for something that is well established.

The second is the change from a grassed area to a hard-standing area. Depending on the size of the area it might have an effect on the rainwater drainage/run-off, and possibly an adverse effect on the local storm sewers, or increase the possibility of flooding. That will all depend on the manner of construction.

Of course if it is a council built car park, they will if necessary give themselves retrospective planning permission!

I would make my first stop the planning department's enforcement officer, followed perhaps by the CEO and local papers