Council cites road safety concerns after Peterlee Memorial Methodist Church car park built without permission.
They applied for permission later, on January 9, 2024. However, the work was completed August 14, 2023. This happened without asking first.
Durham Council denied the plans on February 25. They had a few worries, mainly about road safety.
The car park had loose gravel, and there was no safe place to cross the road. This was bad for both pedestrians and vehicles, and it didn’t follow local regulations.
Road authorities also objected, citing the dangerous gravel and cars crossing sidewalks without designated paths. There were concerns that cars might back up near a curve.
Underground pipes and two large, nearby trees were also a concern with the car park. The council suspected tree roots were damaged before they could conduct an inspection, calling it ‘regrettable.’
The trustees argued that people parked there before, and the work merely formalized the parking area. They cited a planning paper suggesting it was acceptable and wouldn’t harm the area.
Someone commented on the plan, expressing a worry about road safety despite not opposing the idea outright.
The applicant has six months to appeal the decision.