Residents of Kings Close unite to save green space

The residents of Kings Close in Formby have formed a 'Friends of Kings Close' group to save their green space after Sefton Council allowed a planning application to go through without prior consultation to any of the residents.

Each resident in the close objects to Sefton Council giving the green space to a neighboring property to turn it into a driveway. The neighboring property already has a side driveway and is not a resident on the close. Their property backs onto the close from Kings Road.

Eight years ago the residents of Kings Close, got together to prevent the sale of, and fencing off, the community green space in their Close with Sefton Council's approval.

Resident Les Carmen said: "Sefton Council has granted permission for the same non-resident of the Close who made that first application, to again permanently despoil a good proportion of that amenity. This action was opposed by all the eleven taxpaying households in the Close who overlook the site."

He went on to say: "The perpetrator does not have to look over the results of his depredations! No notice of these actions or any offer of consultation, was given to the householders before the Council's decision was taken. If the plans had not been discovered by default,the result would have been a fait accompli (thing that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept it). Sefton Council's actions towards the overwhelming majority of its taxpayers, in this particular case, have shown disrespect and disregard for the residents of our community."

The friends of Kings Close group have now sought advice from local Councillors who will investigate why their was no prior consultation with direct neighboring properties that will be effected by this and will try and overturn the decision.