COUNCILLORS have delayed the decision on plans to build eight homes a second time, after reaching a “deadlock” where the panel could not agree on whether to approve or reject them.

Allerdale Council planners met last week, deciding on planning applications, including a bid to build eight homes on land at Beech Grove, Seaton.

Councillors were asked to decide on outline plans for a housing development in the village, with a more detailed application set to be presented if the proposal was approved.

Although unusual for outline plans, the layout was included as councillors have concerns about flooding, which is already an issue in Seaton.

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Nevertheless, councillors could not come to a decision for a second time, deferring making a decision on the eight homes.

Aileen Brown of Seaton Parish Council said: “This problem goes back years, 25 years ago during flooding of the footpath between Low Seaton and Westcroft, Cumbria County Council could not solve the flooding problem then and had to build a footbridge over the culvert which is still in place today.

“These houses are very near to this area but maybe that’s why the houses are going to be 1.75 metres above ground level.”

Councillor Brown showed the panel images of flooding from a period of heavy rain, water run-off had gathered in the culvert and flooded-in a young disabled woman’s home.

Cllr Brown said: “This is only going to get worse when we lose the field to 100 houses when there’s no soakaway anywhere.”

But councillors were told that a drainage scheme would be enforced as a condition and would actually improve the existing issues.

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The case officer said: “The permeable driveways and shared surface areas engineered into the site have enabled the local lead flood authority to address that this is an acceptable scheme.”

Cllr Anthony McGuckin proposed that the homes are refused but the motion was defeated as giving his casting vote, chairman Tony Annison voted against.

Cllr Annison said: “There’s clearly been extensive hard work done and there was a comment made that if it was left as it was, there’s a greater risk than if this heavy engineering took place.”

After the proposal to refuse the plans was voted down, Cllr Annison called a vote to approve them but it too was voted down.

Following further lengthy debate, councillors voted to defer the plans so that flooding professionals could attend their next and be quizzed on the flooding impact.

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