By RACHEL SPENCER

PARISH leaders in Lymm have mounted a campaign to stop developers from riding roughshod over villagers.

Appalled residents in Higher Lane took their concerns to the parish council after building work began on a two-storey development at the former Lakeside Motors site on the edge of the Lymm Dam conservation area.

The plans, submitted by Antler Homes, to convert the garage into an office block were opposed by the parish council, and members of the borough council's development control committee scrutinised the proposals on a site visit this summer before giving them the green light at a meeting in July.

But when building work started, residents discovered that the view from the windows in the offices would peer straight into their homes.

Parish Clr James Ashington said: "They are imprisoned in their homes by the development, and they are having to keep their curtains closed.

"The development is very overbearing, the windows look straight into their homes.

"It's supposed to be a two-storey development but it is very high. I have taken their concerns to the planning department, but all we have had in return is a dismissive letter, which hasn't satisfied myself or the residents."

Clr Ashington is calling for the developers to install screening at the premises to give neighbours a bit of privacy. And he says the residents feel the plans should never have gone through in the first place.

"They feel developers are riding roughshod over them," he said. "They feel training is needed in planning procedures.

"They want the developers to install trees and frosted glass to show that they are at least aware of their situation and not so dictatorial to ignore them."

Clr Ashington is writing to the director of community services in a bid to put pressure on the developers to protect the privacy of residents.

He is also considering discussions between the parish council and the developers to see whether concessions can be made.