Conservative Leader, Cllr David Westley, said: "The Conservative Group is bitterly disappointed with the Planning Inspector's decision to allow on appeal one of the two Applications that had been refused by the Council's Planning Committee.
The Conservatives took the very difficult decisions that were necessary to deliver a robust Local Plan. They acted in best interests of the residents of West Lancashire and were ensuring the Borough would be protected from rogue developments. The Local Plan that was approved by the Planning Inspector after a lengthy public hearing designated the Parrs Lane Site as Safeguard Land. The expectation was for the Land being protected from development until at least 2027.
I am satisfied that the Council Officers put up a very robust defence of the Committee's decision but the Inspector allowed the Appeal as, after considering all the detailed evidence, he was not convinced that the Borough had a 5 year Supply of Housing Land and that the release of the Parrs Lane Site was required to meet the shortfall.
The Council's most recent Annual Monitoring Report dated 31 March 2015 stated there was then a Housing Land Supply of 6.1 years yet the Inspector concluded there was only a supply of 4.2 years. It is apparent that part of this difference was down to the Council including in its calculation a substantial number of Use Class C2 accommodation for older people in residential institutions. The Inspector discounted these and by way of justification referred to oral evidence provided by the Council at the original Local Plan Public Enquiry.
I have written formally to the Council's Chief Executive calling for a Report on the Appeal Decision. The Report must explain the implications for the Local Plan of the Appeal Decision, provide a detailed analysis of the failure maintain a 5 year housing land supply and make recommendations on how to ensure there is effective monitoring in the future. The Report must be made public as the residents of Aughton and indeed the whole Borough have a right to know this information.
The Labour Leader and Planning Portfolio Holder have put out a joint press statement that simply tries to make political capital out of what is a very serious matter. They should not forget they have been in control of the Council for the past 15 months and have questions to answer on their failure to effective delivery of the Local Plan. The first and most obvious question is why the delay in publishing the 2016 Planning Annual Monitoring Report given it was due in March."