PLANNERS have defended themselves after being attacked by a member of the public who felt they were not doing their job properly.

Roger Kordas made the accusation about Malvern Hills District Council’s planning department after he said it failed to recommend for refusal an application to turn part of a kennels near his home into a pet crematorium even though it contravened a council policy.

The DS1 policy, which aims to prevent development in open countryside unless it enhances or maintains the landscape character and biodiversity of the area, was subsequently used by Worcestershire County Council’s planning and regulatory committee to refuse the application by Lee Childs, owner of Brookend Kennels in Stocks Lane, Leigh Sinton, near Malvern, at the beginning of this month. Mr Childs said he would appeal against that decision.

In a letter to Malvern Hills’ planners, a copy of which was sent your Worcester News, Mr Kordas said he was “so angry” with the way the district council had acted.

“You owe the people of Stocks Lane an apology for not representing them correctly,” he said.

A spokesman for Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) said planners felt the incinerator’s use would be low given its small capacity. “MHDC concluded that the development could be carried out in a sustainable way with regard to travel patterns,” she said.

“Also, while the proposal would introduce a new use to the site, that new use would not be at odds with the policy requirements of DS1 as it would generate such a low level of activity that would be compatible to the existing commercial kennel use at the site.” The spokesman pointed out that no objection was raised on the basis that “the proposed equipment could be operated at the site without having an adverse impact on residential amenity”.

The spokesman said because the application was classified as a county matter, due to its nature, its planners were just invited to make comments on the proposal.