I know this is probably legal but legal never seem to know anything about
legal matters.

Scenario as follows:

1) near neighbour came to me a month ago and said he was going to apply for
planning permission for a one room extension ( asked if I would mind).

2). I find our by ear wigging discussion with another neighbour( builder)
that said one room extension is major reshape of his property from bungalow
to house with three storey extension - slap bang in front of my bedroom
window.

( thinks I will watch for planning permission and make sure I see plans and
object if need be)

3) I know planning procedure is as follows
a) post yellow notice on gate of dwelling where planning is applied for
b) post letters to all neighbouring properties who can see the dwelling
where proposed extension is to be
c) put it in local paper ( although not all planning applications make the
paper - they say its "those which are of public interest" whatever that is
defined as.

So, last three weeks checking paper , watching for notice on gate etc, so as
not to miss it - and waiting for letter.

Today I had cause to go to council offices planning dept on another matter.
I asked as a matter of course about the planning procedure and how long it
was before the posted notices etc.

I was told as (a) (b) and (c) above. I was told I would be written to when
neighbour put in his plans.
But girl wanting to be helpful said she would look and see if it had arrived
recently.....

Bombshell!

Planning permission was GRANTED on the 5th May 2004 - that was more than a
month BEFORE the neighbour came to me and said he was "thinking of applying
for permission"

More

I was not notified in writing by planning office when this application was
put in

I did not see notice on neighbours gate - I drive past it daily and like
all things in the village I look for yellow planning notices so I KNOW I
HAVE NOT seen it.

It was not in the local paper - again I always read planning appls.

So , how was I to know a planning application had been made.

Another woman in office heard the scenario and told me without room for
argument that a planning notice would have been placed on the property and I
should have seen it.

I told her without room for argument I had not seen one ( now it could
have blown away - or more likely neighbour took it down , it is possible
since they are only tied on to the gate with string.

Woman in council was silent ( you could cut it)

I then asked why I had not received a letter

Again silence ( you could cut it!) followed by a reiteration that the dept
would have placed a notice on the mans gate and I should have looked!

I asked if there was anything I could do about it now - since I had been
lied to by the neighbour and had intended objecting and more , I still
wanted to know why I DIDNT get a letter.

I asked if it was possible to view his plans. She said no. I asked again why
I hadn't been informed in the normal way ( letter)

Still no reply - she walked away.

Anyone know about these things.
Is there anything I can do now?

At the very least can I raise the issue somehow?
I dont think the method of putting yellow notices on gates is very
effective. Weather aside , a lot of these notices seem to disappear
overnight ( taken down to stop people realising there is an application
maybe? Its a sad reflection on people but I fear it happens).

How is one to know of a near planning application unless one sees it written
up, receives a letter, sees it in the paper( and not all are put in there)
or the neighbour is honest enough to tell?

Shouldn't there at least be some way in which notices can be listed where
they can be seen and cannot be despoiled or removed at least?

Can I complain , and if so what about precisely to get noticed. Ive already
had the ignore treatment.