Licence waits for planning
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• Planning problems over the use of the Sutton Coldfield base of Nigel Ainge, trading as Nam Transport, has led to the adjournment of his application to renew his licence.
In adjourning consideration of Ainge's application to continue operating 10 vehicles and four trailers from Blake Street, Little Aston, Sutton Coldfield, West Midland Licensing Authority John Mervyn Pugh said Ainge had continuing rights to operate while the planning situation was sorted out.
The renewal of the licence was opposed by Staffordshire County Council and Lichfield District Council, both maintaining that the entry and exit was unsuitable and dangerous. The district council also supported environmental objections by local residents, who complained about noise and increased visual intrusion.
For Ainge, it said that no change was proposed. He had held a licence since 1977 and had operated from the site for many years. Lichfield's senior development officer Norman Stanfield said that a planning application for part of the site had recently been refused on grounds of access and the environment, and planning enforcement action was to be commenced.
Mervyn Pugh commented that he could not prevent the use of the workshop, and he wondered whether it would be fair to prevent some vehicles using the site when others could legitimately do so. Stanfield indicated that enforcement proceedings were likely to be brought within the next six weeks. They were likely to be challenged at a public inquiry and the whole process could take 12 months.
Adjourning the proceedings, Mervyn Pugh said that either party could ask for them to be continued at any stage.