DEVELOPERS of a Pendle marina have been handed permission to keep plants at the side – after ignoring a previous council ruling.

Bosses of the Lower Park Marina, in Kelbrook Road, Barnoldswick, were told in 2001 that any sedges removed during construction of the site must be kept and replanted later.

But they failed to comply with planning conditions laid down by Pendle Council leading to a fresh application to retain fresh plants along the banks of the marina.

Councillors were told in a report that the original plants “perished or were discarded” and therefore a new ruling was needed.

Officers said granting permission for new sedges at the side of the marina to be allowed to stay was “an adequate substitution for the old plants”.

Members of the West Craven committee agreed and attached 17 conditions to the planning ruling.

But afterwards, Coun David Whipp, who sits on the committee, said it was “regrettable” that the developers had ignored the initial decision and had applied to replant the sedges.

But he said he hoped they would adhere to the rules this time.

He said: “There is no reason to think they will not stick to it.

"They have applied for a variation to the planning permission they had and I have no evidence to suggest they will depart from it – it would be foolish of them.

“There are far worse examples than this of developers getting away with blue murder but I don’t think this is one of them.

“However, it does show up the shortcomings of the planning system.”