The post you are reporting:
Unfortunatly planning officers are a funny breed(not all)
Having served on the committee for a year I got to know how they work(I could use stronger words, but it would probably end up in court)
let me give you an example.
An application came in on the Folkestone Road(I wont name it, but those that know the area will probably identify it, but pls thats not what this post is about)
The most senior planning officer made his recommendation that it should be refused, unlike other cllrs i questioned the officers view, stating that to refuse the application, the 2 houses in question will remain a drug den, should the application go through the houses will go, and the place look much brighter.
I asked at the very least could the cllrs visit the area, they did so, public attended, i put forward exactly the same view as i had at the planning committee.
The then chair of planning asked the senior officer(who remember told the committee they must refuse this application)
how can we pass this application.
Quite unbelievably the same senior officer gave the chairperson ways to pass the application!!!!!!!
Today the drug den has gone, the area is brighter, and thankfully the application went through.
But thats just a small insight into the planning dept