The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Residents of a Spalding cul-de-sac have been left fuming after a wood burner with a nearly 30ft chimney was built without planning permission behind their homes.
Those living on Westminster Drive first noticed building work taking place at Cedar Falls Care Home in May and complained to South Holland District Council.
Owner Tanglewood has since submitted a retrospective planning application for a biomass boiler system to provide 220kw energy to the care home and attached storage for the wood pellets.
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue has objected to the plans due to concerns over the lack of access to water.
The flue for the boiler is currently at the back of the property of Eric and Janet Dumper.
The fume from another of the residents’ gardens.
Eric said: “It’s a complete eyesore 15 metres from the back of my bedroom.
“It looks like something Kim Jong-un would build and you would be worried about.
“It has been lit and the smell is so bad you have to shut your windows.
“They should have built it away from houses near the railway.”
Tanglewood say the contractor has not built to the plans it provided. However formal council permission for those plans is yet to be granted.
Tanglewood declined to comment further on the current lack of planning permission.
Tracy Ann Shelbourn director of Tanglewood Care Homes, said in a statement: “Unfortunately, and through no fault of our own, the contractor installed the boiler’s flue in the wrong place.
“Rather than positioning the flue discreetly along the side of the care home, they positioned it pointing upwards.
“After making several formal complaints we can confirm it will be removed and reinstalled in accordance with the original plan.
“As we remain unsatisfied with the work the contractor has been removed from the contract and the reinstallation will be completed by another contractor.
“Once installed correctly, we are confident the flue will not be onerous to the adjoining homes.
“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused and will ensure the installation is fully compliant with the recommendations made by the district council and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue.
“Tanglewood Care Homes holds the views of our neighbours and the local community in the highest regard and will continue to listen and engage with residents as their concerns arise.”
