A thought which chills my blood

HAVING endured a seemingly endless wait for the enforcement section of North Somerset's planning department to give the owners of Emmanuelle's Massage Parlour in Baker Street time to produce all the documentation necessary to apply for retrospective planning permission, involving several 'deadlines', local residents were hopeful an end was in sight, and that their objections had been safely lodged. However, this is far from the case. Anyone who has previously written, telephoned or e-mailed must now start all over again, quoting reference No 06/P/1860/F and clearly stating their opposition to this planning application, and to compound the insult, they are only given until September 8 to do so.To date I have been given the name of two different planning officers to whom the case was allegedly allocated, and two different dates for planning meetings at which this case will be heard, although the Mercury suggests yet another scenario - a decision by a council officer, rather than a committee composed of elected councillors. This is a thought which chills my blood.Consider the plight of the residents of Wooler Road, plagued by late night disturbance, verbal abuse and 'clients' urinating in the street. How can this be allowed to go on happening in a peaceful residential street?Sadly, we have details of two other such establishments within the area covered by our residents' association, and these will also be challenged as soon as the exceedingly slow wheels of bureaucracy will permit.In the meantime, please let your voices be heard in protest over the proposed change of use at 27 Baker Street. If this goes ahead, your neighbourhood could very well be next.GEOFF BUNN - Chairman, Weston Mead Area Residents' Association