A SOUTH Shropshire businessman who planned to spend over £93,000 creating a coal yard in Bishop’s Castle has seen his scheme stalled by Shropshire Council.
John Sankey, from Brow Farm, Ratlinghope, wanted to create a coal yard on the town’s Business Park, next to Bishop’s Castle Building Supplies.
Back in November 2004, the then South Shropshire District Council accepted an offer of £93,000 from Mr Sankey for the plot.
He gained planning permission for the coal yard in March 2005.
Mr Sankey was amazed to get a letter from the new Shropshire Council before Christmas saying the deal was off, because consents to sell the site had not been gained from Advantage West Midlands and the then Shropshire County Council.
Shropshire Council is now considering putting the site back on the open market. Mr Sankey raged: “I believe the new authority has a moral obligation to complete as promised.
“I believe they have acted in a scandalous way.
“I have incurred considerable expense on plans and fees paid. I cannot contemplate going through all that again simply because Shropshire unitary authority has found someone else who expresses interest in the site.”
A Shropshire Council spokesman said: “The council is considering its options with regard to the remaining land at Bishop’s Castle Business Park, including how it will resolve competing interests in some of the land and we hope to bring this to an early conclusion.”