Long planning fight over for mother

A determined mother-of-two who took on planning officers and won over a mansion owner's illegal development next door has told of her relief.

Deborah Vine was shaking with nerves as she addressed the South Staffordshire district council's regulatory committee over the project by neighbour Tony Wright.

Mr Wright built a floodlit riding centre and stables for 14 horses next to her home in Levedale Road, Penkridge, and changed a track yards from the property into a 'road' without permission.

Mrs Vine, aged 40, argued the development threatened to destroy her rural idyll and councillors agreed.

She told the committee: "I hope you will do the right thing and reject this application for retrospective planning permission.

"When we moved in 14 years ago, our house stood in open countryside, and a commercial-type riding school is something we would never have imagined.

"We wanted peace and quiet."

Penkridge councillor Christine Raven said: "This is a golden opportunity to give a clear message to individuals who believe that planning regulations do not apply to them that this council does not, and never will, support maverick initiatives on this scale."

Mr Wright lives in a large house on one side of Mrs Vine's property. She bought Brickle Cottage, with several acres of land — where the controversial development is now built — on the other side of her in 2003.

A government inspector had already rejected retrospective permission. But council planning officers recommended approval in a revised plan that would have included a two-metre high sound barrier.

Penkridge councillor Mrs Isobel Ford successfully moved the rejection of their suggestion.

The committee unanimously rejected the recommendation of their officers and threw out the latest planning application from Mr Wright.

Mrs Vine said: "I am so grateful to the councillors. They have stopped my dream of country living being turned into a nightmare."

Councillor Ford told the Express & Star: "By right the whole thing should now be knocked down but enforcement officers try to reach a compromise in this sort of situation.

"But that is not going to happen if Mr Wright continues to think that he can have it all his own way."

Mr Wright declined to comment.