Bolton Old Residents last week held a second meeting with the presence of MP Julie Hilling to discuss the issue of the Bungalow which has been erected behind residents houses, on the land located behind the Asda supermarket on Bolton Road. Local councilor Norman Bradbury was also present along with Karen Aldred. This meeting was to discuss in further detail what was raised in the previous meeting and what action MP Julie Hilling advised residents to take. Bolton Old Road residents are taking action after a family have erected a Bungalow to the rear of their properties... which is thought to be exceeding height limits and numerous problems have been encountered with the drainage works and also a panelled fence being used as a retaining wall which is in danger of collapse and is causing a major safety concern.
The owner of the property who is from the Gypsy community is not to blame for the height issue of the newly built Bungalow as he was simply following plans which have been granted by Wigan MBC, however other issues have arose which is causing the up most of worry for the community living on the once quiet sub road of Atherton.
The initial planning application which stated that a new bungalow was to be built on the site in question may no longer be valid due to the substantially different property which has been built to what the original plan portrays... a resolution is still awaiting to be met on this. Even though concerns have been raised previously about the properties height plans were passed and granted by Wigan MBC, however the officer in question who granted this permission has now LEFT the council... which is leaving numerous questions unanswered.
One man at the meeting who owns and is renting out one of the affected properties who is highly qualified within this field stated that Wigan MBC “Should not have passed the plan” and that he believes the term for this outrageous decision by Wigan MBC is that they have “Failed to asses the planning permission properly” which in affect could mean that action could be taken against Wigan council themselves. The height of the property has a 2.25 metre high difference and overall is 21.5m. Substantially higher than the guidelines says it should be. The local qualified property owner then told Julie Hilling that the build “needs to come down” and that he would use this example as a “case study” due to it being that diabolical. Residents are said to have been “misinformed” about the build and Health and Safety, Privacy and Legal rules are now being scrutinised. Other issues including generator noise from the caravan which is operating 24/7, dog fowling on residents land, stables and a horse being on the land is being questioned along with a resident only accessible cobbled street issue.
MP Julie Hilling brought up the point of being prejudist for his lifestyle choice... however residents snapped back... claiming that the owner had said that he wants to “leave the Gypsy community behind him” however residents simply questioned that due to him bringing a horse and caravan with him on the land. Residents fear a Gypsy site appearing behind their own properties. Other residents claim that they are scared to approach the owner and that he can be quite “confrontational” therefore adding to worry about his presence in the local community.
The owner shall be questioned with residents concerns and the next meeting shall be held on the 4th November. It is thought that the Building Ombudsman shall be involved in order to see whether or not the property can be demolished.
Matt Howarth, This Week [VIEW HERE]
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