The Chairman introduced the final application, number 142948, for rear conservatory and raised terrace, including boundary treatments, at 5 Colins Walk Scotter. There was no Officer update and so the Chairman invited the first of the registered speakers to address the Committee.

Mr Paul Watkins, on behalf of the applicant, made the following statement.

“Clearly I'm speaking on behalf of Mrs Jean Barwick. She is 80 years of age, and felt somewhat intimidated about coming and addressing the meeting herself. So what I’d like to do is just go through for her. It's my understanding that the main areas of concern here relate to the way the conservatory has been built, namely the way it has been raised up. This has led to a complaint that Mrs Barwick can see into the bedroom of the complainant’s bungalow. When Mrs Barwick bought the property it only had one entrance door. This was a concern, clearly, in the event of the fire. The building of the conservatory allowed a rear door to also be constructed. But due to the nature of the rear gardens of property the conservatory had to be built up, obviously so you ended up with a level floor inside the property itself. Where the step from the conservatory comes down onto the garden is near the adjoining property currently. I understand that additional plans have been or are being made to rectify that.

The statement the view would be spoiled by the installation of the screen doesn't really hold up that much as far as we can see, because the complainants yard itself is actually very cluttered, and they were talking about wanting to see the brook at the bottom. If they actually did some husbandry inside their own property that would solve the problem that wouldn't need to be looking across towards Mrs Barwick's.

The thing about looking into the bedroom window is a bit difficult. I've had a look before coming here this evening and it's a flat window facing out, both of them. She would have to stand on the steps and look back to actually look into the window and there is one occasion where she said she was speaking to the complainant and what she said was that she had the window open and she was talking to her. I'm sorry but if you’re stood talking to somebody through an open window you can generally see things inside. But generally speaking according to Mrs Barwick and from what I've seen itself this evening they’ve got blinds on that window which clearly are closed most of the time apparently.

With regards to the spoiled view by the erection of the screen I have to say that when you rent or buy a property, you do not buy or rent a view that is something that can change over time. The screen was an idea to solve the privacy issues that were raised by complainants. They do seem a bit hell bent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46