Courtman House battle - developer goes to appeal

11.04.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 29th Apr 2008

Lib Dem team with local resident outside Courtman House

Residents of Maltese Road, Chelmsford, are gearing up for the planning Appeal on Tuesday May 13th, which will decide whether or not to allow the demolition of Courtman House. Residents have responded to calls from the local press and ITV Anglia, and are planning their approach to the Appeal Hearing with Lib Dem Councillor for Marconi Ward Graham Pooley.

Local Borough Councillors for the area, Jude Deakin and Graham Pooley, and residents have backed a plan to convert rather than demolish the house. This was approved by Chelmsford council, but the developer is appealing against the refusal of permission to knock the house down.

Graham Pooley commented "For me this is a sad example of a developer trying to go one step too far and cram too much onto one site, without regard to what's really appropriate for the neighbourhood."