A woman who has raised more than £26,000 for charity by selling items from her Holbeach home has been recommended to be given a ‘certificate of lawfulness’ to continue.
Ann Gregory was left stunned when told she received a letter saying she needed planning permission to continue selling bric-a-brac with all proceeds going to Jerry Green Dog Rescue from her Boston Road South property after South Holland District Council received objections.
The community rallied round raising the money for her to submit the application which after consultation with planning officers is for the lawful certificate and will go before the authority’s Planning Committee next Wednesday.
The report to the committee states planning officers argue it doesn’t need planning permission and the use is lawful.
If the committee disagree it’s likely she may then have to submit a change of use planning application.
The report states: “On balance the small scale of the use and its limited amenity impact can be taken to mean that the activity does not constitute a material change of use of the property and in any event the use is incidental to the enjoyment of the dwelling house.
“However, this is ultimately a debate for the decision takers, which in this instance is the planning committee.”
Officers recommend the committee grant the certificate for no more than three days a week, from 10am to 4pm and not on Sundays or Bank Holidays.
Sales would also be restricted to the property’s car port.
According to the government, the lawful certificate “is an existing use of land, or some operational development, or some activity being carried out in breach of a planning condition, is lawful for planning purposes”.
Ann started holding the sales with husband Malc during the first lockdown after becoming smitten with the Jerry Green Dog Rescue charity and the couple not being able to have their own pet due to Malc’s Parkinson’s.
Previously she’d hold up to six sales a week but was happy to concede it being three.
A petition signed by 257 people was submitted in Ann’s favour as were 56 representations.
Coun Tracey Carter also expressed her support saying: “I 100 per cent support this application and have worked with the applicants throughout.
“They raise huge amounts of funds for such a good cause and also provide a social element for those walking by, often providing the only conversation for some passers by all day long.
“They’re a tremendous family doing wonderful things.”
There’s two objections to the proposal citing concerns over parking as a major issue and a ‘business’ being run from a private residence impacting local property prices.
Highways have raised no objections stating there had been no complaints in the time the sales have been happening.
