ARCHITECTS are not giving good advice to home owners wanting to improve their property, it has been claimed. Horwich town council planning chairman Cllr Jeremy Lavin said poor advice was leading to many misinformed planning applications being turned down by councillors. His comments came at a town council meeting where a number of unsuitable or amended plans were discussed

Cllr Lavin said: "I wonder at the expense of taking advice for extensions which turn out not to be acceptable."

Before a single brick is laid, householders have to pay £95 to Bolton Council for processing the application on top of fees to architects.

At the meeting, Horwich town councillors recommended refusal to a first floor bedroom extension in Brooklands because it was deemed too close to a next-door neighbour's windows.

Another couple had their application recommended for refusal in Pennine Road for a single storey extension at the side and rear of the house.

Councillors said it would loose the house's parking space leading to unacceptable on-street parking.

Planning officer Wendy Fox said the council was keen to help people wanting to improve their house by giving advice on council planning regulations.

She said: "We are prepared to sit down and give advice on what may or may not be acceptable.

"The problem often is that a lot of people don't consult us first."

Bolton Council charge a set rate of £95 for each householder planning application.

Plans which have been refused can be resubmitted with amendments within 12 months at no extra charge or an applicant can appeal to the Government planning inspectorate within six months. His comments came at a town council meeting where a number of unsuitable or amended plans were discussed

Cllr Lavin said: "I wonder at the expense of taking advice for extensions which turn out not to be acceptable."

Before a single brick is laid, householders have to pay £95 to Bolton Council for processing the application on top of fees to architects.

At the meeting, Horwich town councillors recommended refusal to a first floor bedroom extension in Brooklands because it was deemed too close to a next-door neighbour's windows.

Another couple had their application recommended for refusal in Pennine Road for a single storey extension at the side and rear of the house.

Councillors said it would loose the house's parking space leading to unacceptable on-street parking.

Planning officer Wendy Fox said the council was keen to help people wanting to improve their house by giving advice on council planning regulations.

She said: "We are prepared to sit down and give advice on what may or may not be acceptable.

"The problem often is that a lot of people don't consult us first."

Bolton Council charge a set rate of £95 for each householder planning application.

Plans which have been refused can be resubmitted with amendments within 12 months at no extra charge or an applicant can appeal to the Government planning inspectorate within six months.

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