Warring parties to fight on after latest twist in bitter Chesterfield housing dispute

The applications concerned amendments to the height, siting and appearance of three detached homes off Ashgate Road in Chesterfield.

The changes were opposed, however, by an action group which says the houses should never have been built in the first place.

A spokesman for the developer said: “Anthony Aston Builders Ltd are delighted that the planning committee granted planning permission for the house at plot three.

Residents on Churston Road, with the development behind their back gardens, they are from left, Jim Love, Colin Bates, Marcia Bates, Lesley Pearson, Matt Griffiths and Janet Pearson.

“An appeal is currently being prepared against the refusal of the amendments to plots one and two and will be submitted to the planning inspectorate in the near future.”

Chesterfield Borough Council planning officers had recommended both applications for approval, but councillors only accepted the amendments to plot three - by four votes to one.

The amendments to the buildings at plots one and two were turned down by five votes to three.

Tempers boil over at fractious meeting

How the St. Crispin Court development looks from Churston Road properties.

During an at times fractious public meeting, interested parties were given the opportunity to put their cases to the committee.

Thomas Aston, from developer Anthony Aston Ltd, said that they were not ‘cowboy builders’ and that the amendments had been made in ‘good faith’.

However, Councillor Suzie Perkins, speaking on behalf of the local residents said that she thought the whole development had been conducted in a ‘cavalier manner’ and that the application should therefore be turned down.