Patrick
What, me worry?
He is, in all sincerity, not showing his local council in a poor light, the rigmarole you have to go through is extremely long-winded, frustrating, on occasion inexplicable and head-scratching, to say the least, Council Planners, as they're called, really are a pain, some really are that "jobs worth" everyone hates. My Father was a Civil Engineer and oversaw thousands of new houses being built, his pet hate were City or Town planners.
He wants to build a Cafe with all that entails, (dining area, kitchen/toilet facilities, parking etc.) But councils, along with the Government, are keen on protecting what's called the "Green Belt" (these are areas around towns and cities that are predominantly woodland or of agricultural use, one of the reasons building new houses is so difficult to do here).
So all new builds are only allowed after consultation with the council and the local people, all plans for the build must be approved and buildings must "fit in" with the surrounding area, along with an Environmental Impact Report.
The council objects to his plans and has not approved the build, so now he has to appeal the decision.
I get some of that, we have places similar where you need 27 layers of government getting involved, your local minister, doctor and future grandkids. We had a case locally where a bunch of people who had no standing in the community sue over something being rezone to allow whatever being built.
It is good to know government works the same everywhere.
