COUNCILLORS were left frustrated as a controversial planning application was withdrawn from the agenda at yesterday’s committee meeting.
It was announced at the start of the meeting that the much-anticipated proposal for a community centre in St Paul’s Mill in Barbara Street, Daubhill, would not be discussed due to ‘new information’ that had been received.
But some committee members were not happy at the move to withdraw and delay a discussion about the controversial scheme, from developer Gulam Ali Jiva, for a third time – with the plans first presented back in November last year.
As chairman Hanif Darvesh announced the withdrawal, councillor Norman Critchley vented his frustration.
He said: “I’m sorry chair, but the any information about noise, which is what we are being told is the reason for the withdrawal, was discussed when this application first came to committee.”
He was told by Cllr Darvesh that no discussion would be allowed on the application as it was not up for debate.
Cllr Sean Hornby was another who felt frustrated and wanted the scheme to be debated – especially in front of the watching Local Government Association members who are carrying out a review into the council’s planning practices.
Speaking after the meeting, the UKIP leader bemoaned the fact that the community centre is already up and running and will be able to continue do so – to the anger of local residents – because of yet another delay.
He said: “I find it unbelievable that at literally the eleventh hour, The Environmental Health discovers the need to do noise impact surveys which it had patently failed to do as far back as November 2015.
“I wonder if there are other reasons for the proposed deferral perhaps political or wanting to keep it away from committee today.”
“I insist that a ‘stop’ notice should be issued to prevent the further use of the facility until the Committee arrives at a decision one way or the other.”
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