Family with disabled son fights for safe enclosure
Over the six years that Mrs A. and her son have lived in their house, the road beyond the front garden has become ever busier. Mrs A.’s son has Down’s syndrome and spends much of his time out in the garden, reasonably safe from the danger of passing cars. Mrs A. decided to build a new, higher front garden wall to ensure her son’s safety, but did not know that planning permission was needed.
As the wall was being built, the local planning authority served an enforcement notice to have the new wall taken down - it was one metre higher than allowed alongside a road. Mrs A. found our Helpline number in a guide to enforcement appeals, called to explain her situation and asked for our help. We helped her prepare an appeal statement and explained that the appeal fee might be waived as the development is intended for the safety of her disabled son. Mrs A. is very grateful for the advice received from Planning Aid Wales and is waiting to hear the result of her appeal.
Local action group successfully objects to major housing scheme
A community action group in Flintshire contacted Planning Aid Wales asking for help to make a case against a substantial housing development in their area at a public inquiry. Local people were unsure about their rights and the procedures for the inquiry, so volunteer Mike Jones attended a public meeting called by the group. He advised on planning matters and took questions and comments from the action group and members of the public.
Mike also made suggestions for improving the statements and objection letters prepared by the group to make sure they were relevant and concise. To the relief of local people, the application was withdrawn before the Inquiry took place. A representative of the action group wrote afterwards to say:"Planning Aid Wales’ help was greatly appreciated; they really gave us the confidence to know we had done our research well and were objecting on the right planning lines. We would definitely use this service again"
Traveller family treated fairly
Mrs C. and her family are travellers who have settled in a small industrial area on the outskirts of Newport, South Wales. Generations of the family have lived and worked in the area, so they were delighted when they were able to buy a small plot of land next to a small settlement with which they have family ties. They assumed the plot had planning permission for the siting of caravans, but it turned out that the permission only applied to the previous owners.
Two years later a planning officer visited the site to advise them that they would need to apply for planning permission to stay. Mrs C. and her family are unable to read or write so they telephoned Planning Aid Wales for assistance. We helped prepare a statement of personal circumstances for the family to support their planning application.
We also liaised with the local authority and others to ensure good communication between all those involved. Unfortunately, the site lies in a flood plain and forms part of a larger Site of Special Scientific Interest, so the application was refused.
We continue to provide planning support for the family, liaising with the local authority and others as necessary. Mrs C. is now considering her options and may decide to appeal against the decision, with assistance from Planning Aid Wales.
