Any planning experts around? Objected to neighbour's plans now being threatened.

[MuffinMclay]

I objected to a neighbour's planning application (along with 12 other people). He found out today, came round to the house, and was very threatening and aggressive. He says that if I don't withdraw my objection he will make life hell for us. Unfortunately I don't think these are empty threats (he was very unpleasant to us when we first moved here).

What I am wondering is whether I can actually withdraw an objection once it is in place? I don't want to, but at the same time I don't want the stress of worrying about what he will do.

Is there anyone I could or should tell about this - planning office, local councillor, or someone else? I don't want to look stupid, but it makes me so angry that someone can bully people to get hisn own way.

I would contact your council straight away and tell them about this.

I might also be tempted to go round to your local police station and tell them - but ask their advice about how you should handle it as well.

Sounds awful. Hope you get something sorted out.

My first instinct was to phone the council, but then realised that they'd gone home for the day (it was late afternoon).

My worry about speaking to the police is that it will escalate into a big situation and aggravate him further.

How will he know? You need to ask them for their help/support if he is such an aggressive neighbour. In the event that you had to call them out, your concerns would already have been lodged with them.

He shouldn't have been able to find this out surely?

You poor thing.

Just tell him you've withdrawn your application and that, if there are further problems, it must be down to the other 12 people who objected. And then warn the other 12 what he's like.

Muffin I would contact your council's planning dept, get advice from the police and if necessary after that contact your councillor. Sadly I doubt this will be the first time they have come accross this situation.

MArmaduke - any objections to planning applications are public, as is the name and details of whoever made them.

Oh, they all know what he's like. He has an awful reputation here. But only one other shares a boundary with him (they don't speak - fell out over a previous planning issue).

I'm also annoyed because I phoned the council to check whether he'd know who objected, and they said it was anonymous. Then, lo and behold, the list of all the people who objected is now on their website.

I guess he'd know too whether I withdrew or not.

do not withdraw it because he has threatened you. tell the council he has threatened you and inform the police and as another poster said, ask for them to log the incident and advise you how to handle..

you need to talk to the other 11 objectors and ensure they all know what he has said to you.. and pass on the advice you get from the police station incase he threatens them also. You probably all need to agree to stand firm together.. intimidating 11 people/families is a lot harder than intimidating one person iykwim

Good point. I know about half of them, so will endeavour to make contact. I'm easily the most intimidatable of the lot, I'm sure. Actually, I'm rather proud of myself though. Normally I go to pieces if someone acts like that, but today I didn't argue back (which threw him a bt, I think) and just said I would take his comments on board.

I'm pretty sure he went off to bother someone else. After he left my house he went striding up the road in the direction of another objector.

What is it he wants to do? Not that it's relevant, but am nosy.
Or, you could phone the planning dept, say you're considering withdrawing the objection because of intimidation by the neighbour, and while you're at it, complain about your confidentiality being breached and that they have put you at risk. If they say you can't withdraw, then you can in all conscience tell the horrid neighbour you tried - although I'm not sure he deserves that courtesy.

MM! Is this the one that we talked about, wanting to do the somewhat large development?

Def tell police, council and other objectors, and well done you for not going to pieces.

Don't pull out! He's a bully and this is what he wants you to do! Rally round. Get your neighbours round for a coffee and a chat about him. Stick together, do not withdraw your objections.

Is it the land registry or the coucil you are dealing with? Either way, they're both crap! But I've dealt with the land registry in the past becasue we put in an objection to a neighbours planning application.

It' hell, but it's worth it. Stick to your guns.

CSWS - yes he is the one we talked about.

Clam - it is a development of lots of houses on a tiny bit of land near my house.

I've been trying to phone the planning office all day and they don't answer their phone. I've left messages, but to no avail.

Our council has all the objection letters on the website - defintiely public info. Agree contact planning office and police.

Spoke to my local councillor, who was very understanding and helpful.

Also spoke to some head planning person at the council and registered an official complaint about intimidation. Haven't withdrawn my objection though.

Haven't contacted the police but will do so if he says or does anything else.

Told lots of neighbours and they were all very supportive (he is well known for his bullying, it would seem). Lots more people have registered objections now too (20+).

Turns out the anonymity confusion was myself and a junior planning person talking at cross purposes. She though that because the council website only lists addresses not names then that constituted anonymity.

MM I suggest not telling police yet but saving it as a threat the next time you see your neighbour. That might scare him off? or is he a complete psycho?

psycho