Thorpe wins in planning bathe with council
Page 34
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Smethwick Haulier Denis Thorpe has won authority for an additional five vehicles and two trailers despite opposition from Sandwell Borough Council Thorpe who trades as Thorpe Transport, held a licence for 15 vehicles and four trailers based at the Bridge Street Trading Estate.
The council complained that there was no planning permission for an extension to the operating centre and that vehicles were being parked in Bridge Street because the site was not large enough even for the existing number of vehicles. They were not aware that Thorpe already had so many vehicles, as the planning permission for the original part of the operating centre had been granted on the basis that he had eight vehicles.
For Thorpe, Michael Carless said that the additional land had been used for a greater part of two years and formed part of the existing operating centre.
Ruling that in those circumstances he could not consider the planning situation, West Midlands LA, John Mervin Pugh said that many local authorities appear before him and expected him to do their planning work for them.
Evidence was given by Thorpe that there was adequate parking and manoeuvring space and the LA granted the additional vehicles and trailers with a condition prohibiting the parking of authorised vehicles in Bridge Street.