A ‘STAIRWAY to Hell’ planning row has broken out in a West Somerset town after a Co-operative society built a metal staircase which allowed staff to look into neighbours’ bedrooms.

The staircase at the back of the Radstock Co-op, in Liddymore Road, Watchet, was wrongly positioned as part of work to convert two flats above the store into three.

Somerset Council planning officers imposed conditions to position the staircase at an angle which would prevent overlooking of homes in Wouldham Road.

But the Co-op instead built it facing nearby properties, and also failed to install privacy screens on windows and prevent access to a flat roof which similarly allowed people to look through the windows of neighbours.

Instead of correcting the planning breaches, the Co-op made a separate application for what it called ‘minor breaches’ of the planning consent to be allowed to remain.

Following strong objections from town councillors who condemned the Co-op’s ‘unacceptable attitude’, the later application was withdrawn only for a fresh attempt to be made for revised plans to be approved which the Co-op’s agent said ‘take account of concerns raised by neighbours’.

However, town councillors demanded planning enforcement action be taken to return the building to the ‘approved original application’.

They also wanted any decision on the Co-op’s application to be decided by members of the unitary council’s planning committee rather than be delegated to an officer after they were infuriated when an enforcement officer said the breaches were too minor to be bothered with.

The officer also pointed that in any case, ‘enforcement is a discretionary, non-statutory service with limited resources’.

One neighbour, Caron Page, speaking for herself and neighbours, said the staircase was an ‘awful, messy’ structure right outside her back garden which meant people could look straight into their bedrooms.

Mrs Page said: “It is a total invasion of our privacy.”

Radstock Co-op chief executive Don Morris, who has asked to meet the town council in September, said in a letter the change to the staircase layout had been made to comply with building regulations, which was a legal requirement even if it meant departing from the approved plans.

Mr Morris said: “We understand and acknowledge that some residents have raised concerns.

“However, the suggestion that the society has acted improperly or unilaterally is unfounded.

“All changes have been made to comply with statutory obligations and are now subject to formal scrutiny through the appropriate planning process.

“The revised stair and balcony designs have been sensitively addressed to minimise overlooking, and a new screening solution forms part of the submitted non-material amendment.”

Mr Morris also refuted allegations about the conduct of Radstock Co-operative Society staff.

He said: “Our retail colleagues are not involved in the residential units and have regrettably experienced confrontational situations outside their roles.

“We respectfully request any future correspondence relating to the flats be directed to our head office, not to the store.

“In summary, the changes arose from legal safety obligations, not convenience or cost, and the lawful planning process is being followed.”