I CANNOT let your story last week headlined “Fenland engineer wants to set up business in garage ...” go unchallenged.
As Mr Claxton’s own planning application concedes, he has been operating his business from his house in Elm without permission since July 1 2008 and so the words “set up” are perhaps unfortunate.
Furthermore the site plan given does not show that Mr Claxton’s land adjoins All Saints Church (a Grade One listed structure).
His other residential neighbours and those visiting what should be a peaceful graveyard may not agree that “over 90 per cent” of Mr Claxton’s work is done off-site.
You also omit to say that Mr Claxton’s business lies within the Elm Conservation Area. The logic of Mr Claxton’s argument seems to be that any business should be able to operate anywhere in order to reduce its costs.
One wonders what Mr Claxton’s competitors, who do pay business rates, and who have respected our planning laws, make of his retrospective application.
A CONCERNED ELM RESIDENT
Via e-mail
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