RESIDENTS of Poulton were overjoyed when Cotswold District Council’s planning committee refused to retroactively approve a building in the village being split into two houses.

The building, 19 London Road, has been the subject of several disputes as the plans submitted to the council were shown to be inaccurate, showing more space than existed on the property during earlier work.

Councillors decided that there was not enough room to park cars that would inevitably come to the house if it was sold as two properties and due to overdevelopment of the property.

Councillor David Fowles supported the Poulton residents and was happy to see the decision, but was upset with how the dispute was handled.

He said: “I quite strongly believe that it would have gone through had it not been for the chairman of the planning committee intervening and suggesting a site visit.

“The planning system has been abused by an applicant and the planning department at CDC has questions to answer.”

As well as support from Cllr Fowles and unanimous opposition from the parish council, those living near the property also spoke about the problems with the development.

Owner of the neighbouring house Angela Spenley said: “I’ve been phoning CDC since October 2013 trying to protect my building and have been passed from pillar to post.”

“The whole build has been something that has been quite tricky. We have been waiting for months for the opportunity to object officially.”

Angela added that on at least one occasion builders at the property had been making noise until around 3am and that recent accidents on the road proved that the road was not as safe as Gloucestershire County Council reported.

Samantha Scott-White, who lives opposite the house, described the builders as raucous and accused the developer of disregarding planning conditions set by the district council.

She said: “No words can really describe the appalling mess. It is just as well he does not live there, but needless to say whoever ends up living there will get the brunt of what has happened over the last year to 18 months.”