Has anyone been watching BBC's Permission Impossible series on iPlayer about planning. It's quite good featuring some interesting applications, objectors, planning officers and self important councillors.

I was disgusted to see featured a dodgy looking, ethnic run car wash in Cwmbran Wales set up in a derelict petrol station. The decent tax paying locals objected to the noise, spray, traffic risk etc but were ridden over rough shod by the Labour dominated Planning Committee who allowed this rogue business to remain. A wet behind the ears, long haired 25 year old Councillor reasoned that "at the end of the day it provides jobs. Looking at the operatives I'd put them all down as either illegals or "asylum seekers". The shady "owner" who probably couldn't string a sentence together had a smarmy Planning Consultant speak at the meeting.

13.05 minutes, 43.28 minutes

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ers_Episode_5/