The chairman of Bridgend County Borough Council’s planning committee has accused his vice-chairman of threatening councillors who were voting on two different applications in his ward.
Vice-chairman and ward councillor Richard Granville, said he would write to a Welsh Assembly minister if his fellow councillors approved the separate plans for Mawdlam, Bridgend.
One application, submitted by Mike James, involved the sub-division of a large house into two 3-bed homes and a 4-bed home.
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Planning officers said it was a “respectful” conversion which raised no adverse planning concerns.
The other application, submitted by Mr C Morris, referred to the change of use to a holiday let above a triple garage, and retrospective plans for alterations relating to the development approved in 2016.
Councillor Granville was unable to vote on the plans due to speaking against them both as ward councillor.
He raised safety fears for pedestrians who have to walk in the road due to there being no public footpath in the village, adding the holiday let had an “unacceptable facade” and overlooked neighbours.
But officers said the design was not out of keeping with the area and signs would be installed to warn drivers of pedestrians walking in the road.
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Regarding the conversion of one house into three, Cllr Granville raised concerns about eight cars coming out onto a single carriageway.
He told councillors: “If it is approved and the other planning application was approved by this committee I will have to write to the minister in the Assembly and ask the Assembly to look at changing retrospective planning – it should be a dual role where a council should have the opportunity to say no or yes to it.”
Speaking at the end of the meeting, once the webcasting had stopped recording, committee chairman Gary Thomas told Cllr Granville he didn’t appreciate being threatened.
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He said: “That comment you made about going to the minister wasn’t very nice to any of us here.
“John [Spanswick] has been on this committee 25 years, I’ve been on it 16 years.
“Don’t you think the people on here have had enough experience?
“The new members have been here two or three years.
“These people here work very hard, we are fair and above board in everything.
“It was a threat, and I didn’t like it.”
Cllr Granville said his comment had not been a threat.
Councillors unanimously voted in favour of both applications.
The development control committee took place on Thursday, May 9.
