Latest news with #SimonPritchard
South Wales Argus
08-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Dog grooming and day care business in Talywain approved
Kathryn Davies has run Kabokane K9 Services from a commercial unit previously used for the maintenance and storage of HGVs at her home at Old Station House in Church Road, Talywain, Pontypool. She made a retrospective application to Torfaen Borough Council for permission for the dog grooming and a licensed dog breeding business as well as to cover permission for a 'doggy day care service'. The council's planning department has approved the application which also includes alternations to the existing industrial building used for breeding and the day care business while the grooming service is based in a portable unit on the site which is also the location of the applicant's home. Planning officer Simon Pritchard said the changes to the building would have minimal impact but how the businesses could affect neighbours would also have to be considered with one objection received. His report stated the nearest home is Ms Davies' and others are some distance from the site and given the nature of people dropping off, or collecting, dogs or bringing them for pre-booked grooming the number of vehicle trips isn't considered unacceptable. There were also no objections from the council's highways or environmental health departments but it was noted the day care business will also require licensing. Drop off and collection times will also be controlled by a planning condition. With all three now approved uses combined the maximum number of dogs on site at any one time will be 28. The day care business will have seven kennels limited to a maximum of two dogs in each, but only if they are from the same owner, meaning it could hold up to 14 while the dog breeding business would have a maximum of 10 at one time and the grooming no more than four. Staffing will increase to two full time and one part timer. The earliest drop off for the doggy day care would be 8am and collection would be at the latest at 6pm from Monday through Sunday. The dog grooming would be open 9.30am to 4pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The Sun
25-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
I went to war with council over ‘illegal' garden deck & WON thanks to Google Earth – they didn't have a leg to stand on
A HOMEOWNER has won an ongoing row with the council over his decking, thanks to Google Earth. Gareth Leek, 58, was left stunned after planning officials claimed he needed retrospective permission for a garden decking that had been in place for eight years. 6 6 6 According to councillors, the raised grey and white platform stood too tall at 83cm high, which is half a metre over the limit requiring planning permission. But, instead of backing down, Mr Leek, who lives in Pontypool, Gwent, took to Google Earth to save his beloved decking. If an unauthorised extension has been in place for more than four years without enforcement action you may legally be allowed to keep it. The aerial snap provided by the app showed the decking firmly in place in June 2018. This proof that it had been there for eight years meant that Mr Leek should legally be allowed to keep it. He was also backed up by a neighbour who claimed the decking was in place in the garden since at least 2019. A planning hearing heard Mr Leek had retrospectively applied for a certificate of lawful development. According to the MaileOnline, planning officer Simon Pritchard acknowledged the evidence presented by Mr Leek, which came complete with a Google Earth aerial image from June 2018. Mr Pritchard said the council had no evidence or reason to doubt that the decking had not been 'substantially completed for less than four years' and Mr Leek was told he could keep it. This also isn't the first time technology has been used as evidence in planning rows. In 2023, Dorset Council used Google Earth to prove that a resident had illegally built a decking and an extension. Satellite photos were able to prove that Colin Thomas's claims that his decking had existed for more than four years, were false. As a result, Mr Thomas now faces the prospect of demolishing his rear extension and raised decking. Earlier this month, Oldham Council also rejected a retrospective planning application over a porch extension that left neighbours in uproar. While Mr Leek's neighbor seemed to come out in support, The Khanom family faced backlash from the community and a £2,000 fine from the council for building a porch that locals claim resembled the Trafford centre. 6 6 6 A Gloucester businessman was also locked in a bitter row with developers earlier this year, over a two brick high wall which he insisted belonged to him. Roger White, 58, went head to head with the developers of a new housing estate in April, after they revealed plans to knock down the wall to create an emergency access route, required in their planning permission. With both parties declaring ownership, White has been left feeling as if they want to 'bulldoze' the wall that he claims he inherited from his father in 1997. What are your rights in this situation? If the council refuse planning permission you can appeal their decision. Appeals can take several months to be decided. You can only appeal against a decision if the LPA: Refuses your application Grants permission but with conditions you object to Refuses to change or remove a condition of planning permission that has been granted with conditions Refuses to approve something reserved under an 'outline permission' – planning permission for a general idea, not of a specific plan Refuses to approve something that you were told to build by your LPA as part of a previous planning permission – the current development was one of the 'conditions' stated in the previous planning permission Does not make a decision on the application within the deadline and does not get your written consent to change the deadline serves you with an enforcement notice because it thinks you have broken planning permission and you do not agree
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Homeowner uses Google Earth to prove he can keep his garden decking
A homeowner who was told the decking in his garden was too high has won his battle with planners by using Google Earth to prove his case. Gareth Leek, 58, was told he needed planning permission for the decking at his home in Pontypool, Gwent, Wales – despite it being built eight years ago. Planning officials told Leek that the decking, that sits 83cm off the ground, was half a metre over the height that required building permission from the council. But rather than simply accepting the decision, Leek went on Google Earth and obtained satellite images that showed the decking had been in place for four years without any challenge. A neighbour also supported Leek, telling officials that the decking – which is 4.84m wide and 3.82m long –had been in place in the garden since at least 2019. A planning hearing heard Leek had retrospectively applied for a certificate of lawful development and he was legally allowed to stop the grey and white decking from being ripped out. Planning officer Simon Pritchard acknowledged the evidence presented by Leek, which included a Google Earth aerial image from June 2018. Pritchard said the council had no evidence or reason to doubt that the decking had not been 'substantially completed for less than four years'. His report confirmed Leek's application to keep his smart decking is now immune from enforcement action. Installing decking in your garden often falls under permitted development, meaning planning permission is typically not required if specific conditions are met. According to guidance from the Planning Portal, decking can proceed without permission if it is no more than 30cm above ground level and, combined with other extensions or outbuildings, covers less than 50% of the garden area. The decking must also not be positioned forward of the principal elevation of the house, typically the front wall facing a road. However, planning permission is necessary in certain cases. If the decking exceeds 30cm in height or covers more than 50% of the garden, an application is needed. Additionally, if the decking is within 20 metres of a highway or impacts neighbours' privacy, such as by enabling overlooking, permission is required. To apply for planning permission, people must submit an application through the Planning Portal website or contact your local planning authority directly. The process requires detailed plans, including measurements and the decking's location on your property, along with an assessment of its impact on the local environment and neighbouring properties. Applications typically take up to eight weeks to process and may involve a fee, around £200. Consulting with neighbours beforehand can help address concerns – their objections could influence the final decision so this is an important step. Click below to see the latest Wales headlines
BBC News
23-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Pontypool homeowner uses Google Earth to win decking planning row
A homeowner has used Google Earth to keep decking he built in his garden after a planning permission dispute with a council. Gareth William Leek, from Pontypool, Torfaen, had been told a planning application was required for his decking years after it was built because it was about 50cm (20in) too far off the ground. Decking more than 30cm (12in) requires planning permission, but local authorities must take action within four years for most developments. A planning officer concluded there was no reason to doubt the decking had not been "substantially completed" for less than four years and Mr Leek's certificate of lawful development was granted. The application stated the decking had been completed in October 2017 and a statement from a neighbour supported Mr Leek's claim it had been built since at least 2019, when they moved to St Augustine Road in Griffithstown, Pontypool. As part of his evidence, Mr Leek also dug out old photographs dating back to August 2017, when the raised wooden platform was constructed. The council planning department said the 4.84m wide, and 3.82m long, light grey composite decking was 83cm from the ground level, meaning it is just over half a metre over the height that requires planning approval, which is 30cm. Planning officer Simon Pritchard said the council accepted the evidence put forward by Mr Leek which included a Google Earth aerial photograph from June Pritchard said the council did not have any evidence itself, or from anyone else, to contradict the information provided.
South Wales Argus
30-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Cwmbran 'In Shops' to close: Relocation promise by centre
The shopping centre's owners have confirmed the M Cwmbran Indoor Market will close in June. The ground floor market is part of a building known The Mall which also previously housed a cinema and bingo hall on the first and second floors. Planners have given permission for the change of use of the ground floor indoor market, in Monmouth Square, at the southern end of the town centre to allow it to be used as 'Flip Out' that could include trampolining, soft play, inflatables and ninja tag among other activities. Flip Out is expected to create up to 40 full and part-time jobs and there will also be a cafe on site and the whole building now has D2 planning permission that covers leisure uses. Torfaen Borough Council's planning department received eight objections to the change of use application and 18 supportive comments. It was claimed existing traders cannot afford to move to other parts of the centre 'due to extortionate rents and rates' and there was also complaints at a lack of consultation with market traders. An objection also said the centre, which is now officially known as M Cwmbran, would be left with 'only coffee shops and places to eat' if the market closed. Shopping centre owners L&C Investments, which made the application, said it intends permanently closing the loss making market, which is commonly known by its former name 'In Shops', regardless of the outcome of the planning application. A statement provided to the council said: 'Rising electricity costs, labour and services costs coupled with a steady decline in occupiers has led to sustained financial loss since the applicant attempted to rescue the market from closing previously in 2022. 'The outcome of this change of use application aside, the applicant has reached the decision that the indoor market can no longer be operated and must therefore close permanently.' A report by council planning officer Simon Pritchard, which approved the change of use application, said the fate of the market is out of the hands of the planning department. He stated: 'Whilst the comments received are fully appreciated, this is a commercial decision and the loss of the indoor space, can not be controlled by the local planning authority.' The report also stated how L&C Investments has said it will support traders and other new businesses. A statement from the firm said: 'We remain committed to providing high quality incubation space for our local start up business community and are working hard to deliver a series of new opportunities within Cwmbran. These will include additional exterior sheltered pitches from which traders can directly access the high levels of footfall around town. 'Future plans will also include the reprovision of a smaller higher quality indoor space offering flexible opportunities to local traders. LCP, part of M Core, will work closely with the remaining occupiers currently within the market space to provide relocation opportunities in more commercially viable areas of the town.'
