TEIGNBRIDGE Council's decision to refuse planning permission to a Bickington resident, and subsequent appeal decision, has been forwarded to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross has asked the new Communities Secretary John Denham to look at the case of Bob and Jill Wakeling, whose application for a live/work unit on land at their home was turned down three years ago.

'I've asked them to look at it and potentially call the decision in. What Mr Wakeling is alleging concerns not just the planning process but improper use of local government,' Mr Younger-Ross said.

The advertiser reported in April that Mr Wakeling had asked the Crown Prosecution Service to review his case, after supplying the police with information which he alleges amounts to misrepresentation and obstruction.

The council insisted it had done nothing wrong but there have been calls from the Conservatives for the matter to be looked at by an independent body.

Mr Wakeling, currently in Nigeria on business, said: 'The council is refusing to disclose the policy under which the application was decided. I hope the Secretary of State rules the decision unsound because it was determined on non-existent policy.'

Mr Wakeling's application was approved by the development control committee in March 2006. But using a council procedure since discontinued, the application was referred to full council where the decision was overturned. It was later lost at appeal. 

Mr Younger-Ross said: 'All I can do with that is pass it on and see what the Secretary of State does with it. It's been to the Standards Commission and the Ombudsman and no one has found in Mr Wakeling's favour. I have said your last resort is to see whether the Secretary of State will call it in.

'It is one of those decisions which could have gone either way. He feels very strongly that it wasn't given proper consideration and proper procedures were followed. The council assures me they have looked at it.

'It isn't for me. I can't judge whether this is right or wrong. These allegations do have to be looked at.'

Cllr Mike Haines, planning services spokesman, said: 'The inspector actually agreed with Teignbridge Council's decision but the Secretary of State can look at the inspector's rationale if he wants to.

'As far as I am concerned, the planning decision was reached in the correct way and I am completely unaware of anything improper in the process.'