Me and the Mrs. are wanting to move to Spain as well - so, Split' - next time there's an unexpected knock at your door . . .
Pam (my better half) is a town planner working for Torbay Council. She's completely hacked off with the council and planning in general. So much so in fact, that she's tendered her resignation and leaves next month. She's going to do a T.E.F.L. course, so that if / when we do move to Spain, she can earn something while I'm trading.
She's leaving because the planning system just doesn't work. For example, Jo bloggs puts in an application to build an extension to his home. Very sensibly, he contacts the planning dept' to sound them out before instructing architects and paying the application fee etc. Jo B' is told that in principle, there are unlikely to be any objections from the planning authority. He gets excited, instructs his architect accordingly and submits an application. As expected, the application is recommended for approval. However, there's a jealous neighbour down the road whose own application was refused last year and, if they can't have their extension, Jo Bloggs shouldn't be allowed his either. So they object. - not to the planning department - but to a couple of mates in the pub who, as it happens, are also on the local parish council. So, Jo Bloggs' application now has to go before a the full Planning Committee and, although the professional planning officer with years of experience recommends that they approve it - they don't. The application is refused. Jo B' appeals with excellent planning arguments as to why the application should be approved by the inspector from the D. o. E. Meanwhile the Council have to defend the Planning Committee Councillors decision for refusal. The same planning officers who recommended that the application be approved, now have to prepare a case as to why it should be refused at appeal. How daft is that!
Committee rooms are booked, site visits are organised, hotel reservations and travel arrangements are made for the D.o.E. inspector, a whole bunch of people are involved, needlessly. Time, money and resources wasted. The 'carbon neutral' brigade would have a field day.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Actually, my wife has just read this to make sure I've got the facts right and her comment was that this is but a minor frustration with the system.
Rant over,
Tim.
