By JOHN ELWORTHY FENLAND S chief planning officer apologised to haulier Tony Knowles for being too concerned about hard core for a new warehouse rather than giving consideration to the building itself. Nigel Brown, development manager for Fenland Distric

By JOHN ELWORTHY

FENLAND'S chief planning officer apologised to haulier Tony Knowles for being too concerned about hard core for a new warehouse rather than giving consideration to the building itself.

Nigel Brown, development manager for Fenland District Council, says the issue of the waste dumped in Manea Road, Wimblington, "obviously rests with the county council as the planning authority."

Mr Brown, in a letter to Peter Humphrey Associates, the agent for Mr Knowles, he added: "It is quite clear that our concerns over the hard core should not have dominated our consideration of your separate warehouse planning application.

"I apologise for this and any embarrassment it caused your client."

The letter is revealed in a planning file lodged at Fenland Hall in which Mr Brown outlines Fenland's support for Mr Knowles' proposed expansion of his business, despite the first application being refused.

A neighbour protested about the amount of rubble dumped in Manea Road and the county council threatened legal action, claiming it was "unauthorised".

However all that is set to change with a fresh bid to develop the site, and Mr Brown has told Peter Humphreys that "I must accept that you have valid concerns regarding the authority's approach in its refusal of the previous application."

Mr Knowles, owner of Knowles Transport, has now been told that Fenland Council is happy since the new application "finally clarifies" the amount of hard standing required for the extension.

Mr Brown said an extension of the site "including a revised manoeuvring area to the rear would be viewed positively by officers." The separate waste issues would remain a matter for the county council.

Mr Knowles wants to expand the Dalgety Arable Ltd site in Manea Road and says the existing yard will be replaced with recycled material crushed concrete.

The proposed new storage area of 1,830 square metres will allow for parking, turning and manoeuvring within the yard, with parking for some cars and 10 lorries.