Bolton Council has bowed to pressure to improve services in its planning department after letters were taking a staggering ONE year to be answered.
Head of planning and environment Cllr Jack Foster apologised and promised to employ another worker after his office came under a stinging criticism from Tory Cllr John Walsh.
Cllr Walsh said a letter he sent to Bolton Council planning department on October 2 last year only received a reply two weeks ago.
He fumed: "Replying to letters nearly 12 months later is pretty poor by anyone's standards.
"It's not right we have to keep telephoning asking what has happened.
"It proves the authority needs to look at its customer care policy."
Cllr Foster admitted serious failings in the planning and regulations section of his department due to a lack of staff.
He said: "I apologise. It's an overworked department and the backlog needs to be reduced."
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