IT is incorrect to say that there has been a 'row' between Carl Fogarty and the Tockholes Parish Council. Mr Fogarty has never attended a Parish Council meeting, nor has he spoken to any Councillor.

The 'row' is entirely an invention in the mind of Mr Fogarty and the Lancashire Evening Telegraph. The problems faced by him are totally self-inflicted because of his clear and flagrant breach of the planning regulations.

Indeed he has been lucky that it is usual for retrospective planning permission be granted where the proposals would have attracted permission in the first instance had he followed the correct procedures.

The Parish Council have, over a long number of years, 'jealously' attempted to prevent unnecessary developments which may impinge upon the very nature of an edge-of-moorland village. It is because of this that the village remains relatively unspoilt and, presumably, that is why Mr Fogarty and his family chose to live in the village. Recently the Parish Council, along with the 'Friends of Tockholes' successfully fought the proposal to build a housing estate in the centre of the village.

The objections to the retrospective planning proposals submitted by Mr Fogarty were legitimate and carefully discussed by the Parish Council.

It must be made clear that the Parish Council has no ultimate power in the making of planning decisions and only reflects local opinion, fears and hopes. It is entirely the responsibility of Blackburn with Darwen Council as to whether planning is granted or rejected after they have considered local opinion and the relevant regulations.

It is unfair of Mr Fogarty to infer that the Parish Council are 'having a pop at him' in particular, or that the Parish Councillors have 'nothing better to do.' Every planning application is treated with equal respect and consideration, no matter who the applicant.

With regard to the latter, the writer would be happy to have his record of work within the community publicly compared to that of Mr Fogarty. Indeed his work in the village would not be missed.

J N JACKLIN, Chairman, Tockholes Parish Council.

FOOTNOTE: We merely reported the comments of planning officials, Mr Fogarty and the objects of the parish council. We expressed no opinions on the dispute - Editor.

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