Planning permission refused for 'eyesore' site

A car and tyre storage site built without permission has been refused retrospective planning approval.

The site, on North Street in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, was opened last year and described by locals as an "eyesore".

Councillors unanimously voted not to grant planning permission on visual impact and safety grounds at a meeting on Wednesday.

However, the West Lindsey District Council meeting was told that the site "wouldn't be fixed tomorrow".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), local councillor Paul Key said people living near the site were worried about "the big piles of tyres going up in smoke".

Planning officers said they had been unable to determine whether the petrol tanks had been removed after it stopped being a petrol station, which was one of the reasons for refusal.

Cliff Haw, who lives nearby, told the committee: "Millions of pounds have been spent tidying Gainsborough town centre, but when you drive through the main thoroughfare, this is a complete and utter eyesore."

The business has been running since Christmas 2025 without planning permission and council officers said the applicant, Ali Mohammed Saleh, had not responded to any of their questions.

He did not attend the meeting or send a spokesperson.

Saleh will have the chance to appeal against the decision, meaning any enforcement action on the site could take time, the meeting was told.

Councillor Tom Smith said: "There's a sizable backlog of Planning Inspectorate decisions.

"If we refuse it tonight, enforcement teams won't be able to wave a magic wand and fix everything tomorrow."

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