A COUNCILLOR is being threatened with legal action by her own council over claims that structural work on her Tudor period home was carried out without consent.

The building at the centre of the row is Councillor Kate Wheller's Grade II listed house in High Street, Wyke Regis, Weymouth.

Planning officers want councillors to refuse permission for removal of external rendering and repairs to masonry because the alterations are affecting the building's character and appearance.

And they also want powers to take enforcement action against Mrs Wheller if necessary to get the front of her home re-rendered properly.

Members of tomorrow's Weymouth and Portland planning committee will be told that the three-storey property in a conservation area could date back to Tudor times or earlier.

Officers have told Mrs Wheller that the condition and appearance of stonework as revealed and now re-pointed is not suitable.

They also say an independent conservation architect advised them that the stonework was not designed to be exposed and that it would be "inappropriate and unwise" to leave it like that because it might become detached and fall away.

The architect adds that damage is likely to be made worse because the pointing already used seems to be Portland Cement-rich, which is also hitting the building's character, and he urges that listed building consent - which the work requires - should not be granted.

A report to members a year ago said that proposed works included removing front external rendering so a full survey of the underlying structure could be made to see what action was needed to safeguard the building's long-term future.

Planning manager Simon Williams says that since then, "the applicants have proceeded to carry out structural repairs to the underlying masonry structure which include the replacement of brick and block work, infill with new stone, the repointing of the whole front elevation and the replacement of the timber lintels without the benefit of consultation with planning and/or the necessary listed building consent."

Mr Williams adds that the Whellers have not responded to numerous requests for more information, an attitude he says is "most disappointing".

A final letter requesting confirmation of a programme of re-rendering has been sent to the Whellers, says Mr Williams, so far without reply.

He comments : "As a result the only conclusion that can be drawn is to assume that they do not intend to re-render the front elevation."

He therefore recommends councillors to refuse the Whellers' application on the grounds that removing the render and other works are detrimental to the character and appearance of the building.

Mr Williams adds: "Under these circumstances I consider that it would be appropriate for you to give me authority to pursue enforcement action, should it prove necessary, to take formal action to ensure that the front elevation is re-rendered in an appropriate manner in order to protect the character and appearance of the listed building."

Mrs Wheller refused to comment.