A Durham county councillor who has campaigned in opposition to Houses of Multiple Occupancy has been branded a ’hypocrite’ after a property previously linked to his handle was transformed into a HMO.
Mark Wilkes, a vocal member of the council’s planning committee, has a track record of speaking against HMOs all through County Durham and repeatedly urging leaders to guard residential areas.
Yet the Liberal Democrat member for Framwellgate and Newton Hall has now been criticised by his personal residents in the close-knit group of Pity Me after a property previously listed as his electoral handle was transformed into a HMO – regardless of objections from neighbours.
Cllr Wilkes admitted he was conscious of the plans for Petite Mer, however the utility was not referred to a planning committee for consideration.
Mark Wilkes, Liberal Democrat county councillor (Image: Supplied)
He mentioned he has “no responsibility” for the property and moved out in 2021.
But opposition leaders described Cllr Wilkes’ resolution as hypocritical.
A retrospective planning utility to transform the previous two-bed bungalow into six bedrooms was accredited by Durham County Council in December after works started earlier in the yr.
According to planning and land registry paperwork, the bungalow is at present owned and managed by his ex-partner, Ingrid Rowe.
Cllr Wilkes, who has represented the world since 2008, is adamant that he’s not liable for the property.
He mentioned: “I did not receive any request for the application to be referred to committee from residents, and had that happened, I would have passed it to a colleague to avoid any suggestion of a conflict of interest, as it is my ex-partner’s property.”
But residents have insisted that their considerations ought to have been heard at a public assembly.
Bob Glasper, who lives reverse Petite Mer, was one in every of eight properties to object throughout the planning course of earlier than the appliance was accredited by delegated powers in December.
Bob Glasper, who lives reverse Petite Mer. (Image: The Northern Echo)
The 76-year-old mentioned: “I would love to know why Cllr Wilkes didn’t call in the alterations to the property.”
Residents in Pity Me praised the group spirit amongst neighbours, however they worry that might quickly be misplaced as the continuing points regarding HMOs in Durham attain their doorsteps.
Neil Griffin, a former mayor of Durham City who lives on Front Street, mentioned: “There’s a general concern that introducing another HMO in a family area is altering the culture of the village.
“If that has got planning permission, then the next one will be a shoo-in as more and more of these are built.”
Another resident added: “I felt it should have gone to an open meeting, and the fact it has been passed through hasn’t been very transparent.”
Yet, Cllr Wilkes has been supported by ward colleagues Cllrs Amanda Hopgood and Elizabeth Pears, who mentioned the appliance was mentioned at a parish council assembly, however they weren’t conscious of any objections.
A retrospective utility to transform the bungalow was accredited final yr. (Image: The Northern Echo)
During his time as a member of the council’s planning committee, Cllr Wilkes has beforehand spoken in opposition to planning functions for shared and pupil housing.
Last October, he lobbied leaders to introduce new laws to cowl an “unsustainable” multi-million pound council tax shortfall in Durham City because of the rising variety of pupil properties.
Other key features of Councillor Wilkes’ HMO campaigning embody:
Cllr Wilkes mentioned: “We need the government to step in and provide councils with more control over the expansion of HMOs because the current planning rules are not strong enough to block the vast majority of HMO applications.
“The council’s announcement on countywide restrictions to HMOs this week will not make a blind bit of difference to the issue of HMOs in Durham City because they have failed to reduce the maximum HMO level from 10 per cent in an area.
“I have previously called for proposals to reduce the maximum HMO levels in an area to five per cent, which would halt further expansion in Durham City.”
But Andrew Husband, Reform council chief, has criticised Cllr Wilkes amid the residents’ considerations.
He mentioned: “I believe he has betrayed his community and the people who voted for him. Genuine concerns have been raised, with objections by the residents of the ward he represents, and they have been ignored.
“The man is a hypocrite.
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“If there are residents wanting to be heard and with concerns as obvious as this about HMOs of all things, it just proves to me that Cllr Wilkes should not be allowed anywhere near a planning committee going forward.
“To not even call this development to a committee reeks of everything I despise in politics. His track record suggests one rule for thee, but not me. This is not a good look at all.”
The planning company engaged on behalf of the appliance for Ms Rowe was contacted for remark.
