A RESIDENT has hit out at the council over alleged ‘double standards’ and ‘underhanded’ methods over the proposed new Accrington Stanley stand.

John Tennant, 35, whose property backs onto the club’s Whinney Hill stand, has complained to Hyndburn Council about his concerns about the development.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The 35-year-old said he is angry at town hall bosses, who turned down his application to extend his home, yet gave the Whalley Road club extension the go-ahead.

He said his concerns about the Wham Stadium involve light obstruction, the stand’s distance from his property and the council’s lack of consultation.

Mr Tennant, of Epping Avenue, said: “I will go as far as I can to prevent this from taking place.

“They have started doing the work while I have been away. More trees have been chopped down and letters from the council have landed on the doorstep to say that the plans are online.

“They could have consulted people first, at the very minimum.”

Mr Tennant returned from his two-week holiday on April 21 to find that work had started in his absence. He has since put an objection in to the council against the proposed plans and is seeking advice from a legal team.

Mr Tennant said he is in the process of applying for permission to put up a £45,000 extension at the rear of his house and the new stand will come within a meter of his fence.

The builder said: “I was refused planning permission for a double extension because it would cause light problems for the neighbours but that stand is going to cause huge lighting problems for everyone.

“They have double standards. I could have put up an extension and it would have encroached on the neighbours' light but apparently Accrington Stanley can go ahead and freely do that.

“It is also false that they have been to speak with us.

“It has been done underhand. This just feels like a formality. There is no democracy.”

Cllr Bernard Dawson, chairman of Hyndburn Planning Committee, said: “We must consider each application by its own merit.

“There will be a process of consultation and all of the residents will be given the opportunity to raise any issues they may have about the planning application."

“People will have a chance to voice their concerns when it comes before committee.”

David Burgess, Accrington Stanley managing director, said,: “We are still currently in the consultation period as we have not received formal planning permission for the stand and Mr Tennant is welcome to come to the club and chat to us."

“Owner Andy Holt and myself are at the ground most days and a number of residents have been to see us since the plans were submitted.

“So far, around the ground, we have been tidying areas up to make it better for the whole community.”