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Cornwall Council sorry for 11-year planning application wait | Cornwall Council sorry for 11-year planning application wait |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man has spent 11 years waiting for a planning decision from his local council. | A man has spent 11 years waiting for a planning decision from his local council. |
Colin Brown, 80, applied to Cornwall Council to turn a riverside beauty spot at Forder, near Saltash, into a village green in 2008. | Colin Brown, 80, applied to Cornwall Council to turn a riverside beauty spot at Forder, near Saltash, into a village green in 2008. |
He said some locals had "died or moved on" since the application was lodged. | He said some locals had "died or moved on" since the application was lodged. |
The council, which was criticised for "protracted delays and inaction" by a watchdog, said it would hold a public inquiry into the application. | The council, which was criticised for "protracted delays and inaction" by a watchdog, said it would hold a public inquiry into the application. |
More stories from Cornwall | More stories from Cornwall |
The village green status would have given the area a certain amount of protection against future development. | The village green status would have given the area a certain amount of protection against future development. |
Mr Brown said he lodged the application, on behalf of 144 locals, when he was in his late 60s. | |
"I'm now 80. Time is going on," he said. | "I'm now 80. Time is going on," he said. |
"This has just gone on now to a point where people say to me 'Why do you continue with this? You're not getting anywhere?'. | |
"But I think there comes a point where we must continue the things we set off to do." | "But I think there comes a point where we must continue the things we set off to do." |
After years of waiting for a decision, Mr Brown went to the the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO). | After years of waiting for a decision, Mr Brown went to the the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO). |
In its report, the LGO said the council had promised to hold public inquiries which were then stopped after third parties got involved. | In its report, the LGO said the council had promised to hold public inquiries which were then stopped after third parties got involved. |
The council has apologised for the impact the delays have had. | The council has apologised for the impact the delays have had. |
The LGO said it welcomed the council's promise of a new public inquiry into the case in the autumn and said it should sincerely apologise to Mr Brown for the failures. | |
Mr Brown has been paid £300 for the uncertainty caused by the fault and £300 for his time and trouble in making the complaint. | Mr Brown has been paid £300 for the uncertainty caused by the fault and £300 for his time and trouble in making the complaint. |
The Open Spaces Society said it was dismayed Cornwall Council had taken such an "inordinately long time" to start determining the application. |
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