Neighbours' fury at Salvation Army 'eyesore'

Oct 13 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal

SALVATION Army chiefs look set to escape action over a Northumberland meeting hall which has infuriated neighbours.

People living near the recently-extended building in Bedlington labelled the £465,000 refurbishment an industrial-style eyesore, while council officials admitted its roof had ended up higher than was allowed under planning permission.

Wansbeck Council has received letters from neighbours and a petition protesting at the size, appearance and height of the building. Opponents say it dwarfs nearby houses, looks ugly because of the use of industrial-style metal cladding on the walls and should be lowered to comply with the approved plan.

But later this week members of the council’s regulatory committee will be recommended to approve the Salvation Army’s retrospective application for permission for the completed building.

Planning officers say there is not sufficient justification to take enforcement action to alter the height or appearance of the building.

The Christian charity has expanded the church and meeting hall to provide improved facilities for the local community, but fell foul of neighbours because of the extensive use of metal cladding and the height of the new pitched roof.

A report to Thursday’s regulatory committee says letters of support have also been received from users of the building and other residents, who believe it should stay as it is.

The report says planning permission for the extension allowed the use of metal cladding on the building, some of which has been removed following negotiations with Army officials.

And it says planning officers feel that if the amended plans were to show the roof height as built, they would have been very likely to recommend approval.

The report reads: “If an enforcement notice is to be served on a developer it can only be done if, in the opinion of the local planning authority, the development should be refused. It is felt that the negotiated reduction in the area of cladding goes some way to appeasing the neighbour complaints.”

Yesterday Andy Garrow, 72, whose home in Hartford Road East faces the building, said: “The building looks like a factory, has been built too high and we are not prepared to accept it... if permission is approved this week we are going to take this further.”