A DAMNING report into how West Dorset District Council handled a planning complaint has been released today.

Local government Ombudsman Jerry White ordered the authority to pay £1,000 in compensation for giving out wrong advice on how to appeal against a planning decision that had been delegated to officers.

The slap on the wrist came after complaints were made by a West Dorset couple who objected to their neighbour's proposals to build an extension and make alterations.

Privacy

The couple, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said they suffered "unacceptable" loss of privacy because of the council's decision in 2001 to allow the annexe to be built.

The couple, who enjoy views stretching out to Chesil Beach and the sea in an area of outstanding natural beauty, also complained about a hedge being removed from their boundary.

Mr White found that planning officers failed to properly consider the couple's objections or record their considerations of them, gave them wrong advice about their legal rights to challenge the decision and seek compensation and did not inform them about their right to complain to the Ombudsman.

Mr White, who is independent to the Government, ruled a case of maladministration causing injustice and ordered that the couple be paid £1,000 "to mitigate the overlooking they now suffer and in recognition of their time and trouble in pursuing the complaint".

A spokesman for West Dorset District Council said: "We completely accept the findings of the local government Ombudsman and have apologised to the complainants for the upset and inconvenience that this incident has caused.

"The compensation recommended by the Ombudsman has also been paid.

"The Ombudsman recognises in his report that the council has already made specific changes to help ensure that this situation is not repeated.

"The way that planning decisions are delegated has been reviewed and a better system put in place to accurately record the findings of site visitors.

"All planning officers have been reminded of the complainants' right to challenge a planning decision by judicial review through the courts and to make a final complaint to the local Government Ombudsman."