Plans bungle as floodlights put up without permission

Planning officers were in the dark when the children’s services department put up lights at a community centre in Belle Isle, Leeds, without first getting consent.

Now members of the council’s east plans panel are to visit the centre before making a decision on a retrospective planning application submitted by children’s services. They are also asking that the lights not be used until the application has been determined.

The Local Government Ombudsman has already ruled that it was “maladministration” to carry out the development without permission.

Councillor Mick Lyons said: “The council has been made to look like fools by putting the lights up without permission.”

Planning panel chairman Councillor David Congreve said: “This is a council department who should know better. Children’s services should understand they talk to planning officers before carrying out any planning development.”

Councillor Ralph Pryke said: “The ombudsman has been critical and we cannot just rubber stamp a retrospective application for lights that are unacceptable.”