Planning delay an embarrassment says council

A delay in plugging an eyesore gap on a town centre street has been branded "embarrassing" after a council was not told about issues with the plans.

An application was submitted for 11-12 High Street, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, to convert two properties that were demolished in 2020 into flats and commercial premises.

However, Fenland District Council's Conservative cabinet heard that the plans were delayed because of a bat survey, of which some members were unaware.

The application was validated on May 13, after being received on April 10, but speaking of the delay to the work, Samantha Hoy, of Wisbech South, said "the whole thing is embarrassing".

Conservative councillor Dee Laws said the planning application had been rejected, and there was an "issue regarding the bat survey, and we can't overrule ecology".

She confirmed the proposal would be put before September's planning committee, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Hoy said: "I'm sorry, it's just really not acceptable – this building has sat there decaying for 20-plus years and this district council is responsible. It's under our ownership, and we must not let it carry on."

Steve Tierney, also of Wisbech South, said if the work was not complete before the council was abolished after local government reorganisation, it "will be remembered, rightly, as a failure of ours".

Council leader Chris Boden said: "We must have an explanation about how this has ended up happening. It's embarrassing to the council, to be quite honest, that we should be put in this position."

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