It gave me great pleasure to read "The Letter of the Week (CT 22.12.99) from Julie Knott in which she gave thanks to all who supported her family's successful campaign against unjust action by Caradon Council.
The Knott's nightmare began in 1989 when they were granted planning permission to build on land they owned at Sandways, Calstock, on the grounds it was a local need. At the time Julie's husband Tony, was a serving Caradon Councillor but under the rules took no part in the discussions.
For some unknown reason seven years later in 1996, Caradon referred the matter to the Environment Secretary John Gummer, who ruled the decision was against planning policy.
In the meanwhile Tony Knott became seriously ill with cancer and was forced to give up his council duties. On receiving John Gummer's report Caradon Council voted to revoke the planning permission and pay the Knotts compensation, this strange decision coming from the same councillors who voted in favour of it when Tony Knott was a fellow councillor.
Now the plot thickens, Caradon planners discovered the Knotts house which had now reached ground floor level was slightly off from the agreed plans and with the support of the legal department decided this was "just" reason to refuse any payment of compensation to the Knott family.
This dispute reached the High Court in December 1999, and was thrown out by the judge who ruled Caradon COuncil had voted in a "wholly unjust way" and must pay compensation to the Knott family.
This latest episode could cost Caradon ratepayers nearly £1 million in compensation to the Knott family and the cost of hundreds of hours spent by councillors and officers over the last ten years.
May now Caradon quickly make a generous offer to the Knotts for the loss of planning permission . Unfortunately they can only be compensated for their financial losses, and not for the years of misery and stress inflicted on them.
Finally I take my hat off to Julie Knott who with the help of a few friends fought on when all seemed lost and defeated the bureaucrats of Caradon, we could do with a lot more like her.
T.E. HARDY.
Torpoint