A Farnworth councillor is in hot water for putting up a fence without planning permission at his house in Great Lever.

Nadeem Ayub put up the fence without planning permission at his house on Lowther Street in the last few months. 

Cllr Ayub, the cabinet member for culture and the son of the mayor for the last year Mohammed Ayub, said he was not aware he needed permission until a complaint to the council and he put in an application when he was aware he needed permission.

The application is up for consideration by the Planning Committee when it meets at the town hall next week.

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Cllr Ayub said: "I put up the fence without realising it needed planning permission. 

"Then when I was told it needed planning permission I put it in as a retrospective."

The Bolton News: Nadeem Ayub

The report for consideration by the Planning Committee recommends refusal on the basis of the impact of the fence on the appearance and character of the area and the impact of the fence on highways safety. The latter is because it limits the ability of a neighbour on Lakeside Avenue to see both ways from their driveway.

Cllr Ayub said he would act in accordance with whatever the outcome, including cutting the height to less than one metre, a height which does not need planning permission.

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The report said: "The development conflicts with the development plan. There are no considerations, including the National Planning Policy Framework, which indicate a decision should be taken otherwise than in accordance with the development plan. 

"Members are recommended to refuse this application."

The Bolton News: Nadeem Ayub put up the fence without planning permission

The report said the house as a whole is not in accordance with planning permission after it was approved on appeal to the Planning Inspectorate in 2020, particularly in relation to its appearance and the position of its windows. Cllr Ayub declined to comment on this as it is not up for consideration by the Planning Committee.

The Planning Committee meets at the town hall next week.


This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.