Report slams Greenwich Council over school extension plans

11:24am Wednesday 15th October 2008

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GREENWICH Council has been told to pay residents compensation after it failed to follow planning application procedures for a school extension.

A report by the Local Government Ombudsman, who investigates complaints against local authorities, found Greenwich Council did not correctly address some of the letters which were sent out to residents notifying them of the application.

This meant some people did not have the opportunity to object to the plans for the school, which was not named.

Meanwhile the council also failed to apply to the Government for listed building and conservation area consents, which were both required.

Finally, they failed to update residents on the status of their complaints - meaning they had no idea whether their objections had been registered.

Although the ombudsman was not persuaded that the approved outcome of the application would have been any different, the council was ordered to pay £1,500 to one of the four complainants, who were not named, and £500 to the other three.

Greenwich Council was also told to review whether the development is being built in accordance with the plans, and to reviews its procedures for considering applications for council developments.

Do you know the name of the school? Do you live nearby?

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