I read a news report today regarding an unscrupulous approach to members of the Lichfield District Council Planning Committee regarding the application underway for the construction of wind turbines near Lichfield.  I commented on the article that abuse of the planning procedures are nothing new and go on regularly.  The public at large only become aware of the abuses when they happen on their doorstep. A common abuse of the system involves the following:

1. Build what you want.
2. Get caught and served with enforcement notice(s).
3. Apply for retrospective planning permission at the last minute.
4. Appeal, again at the last minute after the application is rejected.
5. Reach a compromise which would never have been accepted had you applied properly before construction/installation.

The whole process takes about two years, much more in the case of illegal traveller sites etc. As well as the attempted coercion of the planning committee in this case there are several others that I am aware of:

• An illegal riding centre and stables, built without planning permission in Penkridge with no regard for neighbours rights. Retrospective planning permission was rejected by a government inspector, a revised application was made and recommended by council officers (foolishly, in my opinion) but rejected by committee. At the time of that report the council were still looking for a ‘compromise’.  There should be no compromise.  It was built without permission, knock it down!
• The ‘V N Best’ shop in Burntwood installed galvanised steel external roller shutters in front of the building line without permission in October 2009.  After warnings from the council, they applied for retrospective planning permission in April 2010.  It was refused in June 2010 and enforcement notices followed.  There is a period of 6 months allowed to file an appeal.  The appeal was filed the day before the 6 months ran out and is now ongoing, a decision not being expected until the end of March, eighteen months on and with the likelihood of further enforcement notices to follow.
• ‘A & J Vehicle Repairs’ in New Road, Burntwood is a repeat offender.  Looking through Burntwood Town Council Planning Committee minutes you will find ongoing issues with carrying out business ventures without applying for permission and they were recently prosecuted and fined for running an illegal caravan site from the premises, a process which took 14 years!

I think the cases which are clearly just playing the system need a harder line and the idea that building first and asking permission afterwards is a route to a compromise should be quashed completely.