Rejected

AN APPLICATION to build four houses in a prestigious residential street has been turned down for the second time.

Bernard and Rosy Palmer, of Pasture Road, Letchworth GC, first applied to demolish their house and build four properties in its place earlier this year.

Planning permission was refused by North Herts District Council's Letchworth Committee in July.

The couple then submitted another application.

Officers at the council said this new plan presented "a more satisfactory layout than the previous scheme" but nearby residents disagreed.

One resident, Nigel Baker QC, spoke on behalf of householders in Pasture Road and Garth Road, and of Letchworth Golf Trust Ltd.

He said: "This application is the old application dressed up.

"In my letter of objection I said it seemed the application was like reorganising the deckchairs on the Titanic."

The residents' concerns included the 'over intensification' of development, and the effect of the buildings on the nearby greenbelt.

Their concerns were echoed by a number of councillors including Lynda Needham and Terry Hone.

The latter issued a warning about future development in Letchworth GC.

He said: "There are many big plots in and around that area where if you decide to start doing this sort of thing in Letchworth it could be the very thin end of the wedge."

Councillors eventually voted to reject the plans on the grounds that the proposed houses would have a detrimental effect on the character of the area, that the plot sizes would be smaller than surrounding plots, leading to higher density development and that the houses would be conspicuous from the adjoining greenbelt.

Speaking on behalf of the residents after the meeting, Mr Baker said: "We are pleased and relieved that the planning committee upheld the many objections to this inappropriate scheme."

The Comet tried to contact Mr and Mrs Palmer but was unable to get a response.