Black eye for council as Stallingborough planning dispute inspector finds in favour of motor giant Kia

AN attempt by North East Lincolnshire Council to get tough with motor giant Kia UK has backfired.

The authority decided to take enforcement action after floodlighting columns were installed on Kia-occupied  land to the rear of Paragon House, off Kiln Lane in Stallingborough.

NELC deemed that the lighting, installed for security reasons, would have an adverse impact both on residents and on wildlife - for instance, bats and the birds that over-winter in the Humber Estuary.   

But the company, which has South Korean owners, contested the action by lodging an appeal with an independent inspector.

After investigating the matter, the inspector acknowleged that lighting "spill" might be harmful, but he said this could be addressed by adjusting the intensity and colour balance of the lighting and installing shields to control any light spill beyond the site boundary.

In his report, he says: "The appeal is allowed, the enforcement notice is quashed and planning permission is granted."

However, the victory is not total for Kia. They will still have to adjust the lighting as stipulated by the inspector.

The Grimsby News says: A lot of time and expense could have been spared if common sense had prevailed without the need for an intervention by an independent inspector. This matter could quite easily have been resolved if the two parties had sought an amicable compromise. Instead, stubborness ruled the day and both, particularly NELC, have ended up looking somewhat foolish.