THE owner of one of Bolton’s biggest scrap merchants is in dispute with the council over a refused planning application and an enforcement notice.

Sean Chadwick, owner of SC Chadwick and Sons Ltd in Breightmet, is appealing against the decision by planners to block his proposals to extend the site on land he bought in 2002.

Town Hall chiefs also served the scrapyard with an enforcement notice after Mr Chadwick built two single-storey buildings, a concrete boundary wall and four metal lighting columns.

All of the structures were ordered to be dismantled by planning chiefs in July last year when the notice was served but Mr Chadwick is refusing to back down.

A public inquiry into the Oakenbottom Road scrap merchants opened at Bolton Town Hall yesterday which was also attended by Breightmet residents. Alex Allen, principal planning officer at Bolton Council, gave evidence to dismiss Mr Chadwick’s appeal and uphold the enforcement notice. Mr Allen said the new developments were unauthorised.

He added: “The appeal proposal does not represent development which is in scale with the existing industrial area and, as a result, would adversely affect the site’s character and the character of the surrounding area.”

Mr Allen was questioned about a concrete wall surrounding the northern site in Brook Mill but said the wall could be reduced in height to two metres, rather than the initial demand to demolish it.

Vicky Cooper, waste disposal expert and consultant to Mr Chadwick, said the scrapyard offered a valuable service to Bolton business.

Mrs Cooper said: “Small trades people and businesses are not going to travel a significant distance to dispose of their waste with the rising cost of fuel.”

Mr Chadwick threatened to pull his business out of Bolton altogether when his planning application was first refused by the planning committee.

The inquiry continues.