A COUNCILLOR praised an application for a home extension that didn’t receive any objections seemingly without realising it has been submitted by a staff member.
Members of Torfaen Borough Council’s planning committee unanimously approved the application for the part two-storey and part single storey extension at the back of a three storey terrace house in Cwmavon Road in Blaenavon, outside of the town’s conservation area.
Huw Roberts, head of the council’s planning service, said there had been no objections to the application though doormer windows, for an office space in the roof, had been reduced during the application process to meet guidelines for the World Heritage Site.
Planning committee member, and Pontnewydd councillor, Stuart Ashley said similar applications in Cwmbran attract objections.
The Labour councillor said: “This is remarkable because of no objections, you normally get this in Cwmbran if people put in for an extension.”
He added: “People have obviously listened to officers here and it’s done by the book, it looks like a straightforward job to us.”
The report presented to the planning committee explained applicant Lee Redman “is a member of staff within the planning service” and the council’s constitution required the application, which could ordinarily have been approved by officers under delegated powers, be decided by the committee.
