Bob wins appeal to keep house number

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http://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/news/Bob ... 3813237.jp


A Spalding resident is celebrating after winning an appeal to stop his house number being changed.
Widower Bob Russell, of Matmore Gate, fought South Holland District Council's decision to change the numbers of three homes to accommodate a new estate backing onto the road because he did not want to change the address he lived at with his wife up to her detah.

At a hearing before Spalding magistrates on Wednesday Mr Russell challenged the council on the grounds that he had offered the authority an alternative which it did not give due consideration.

He suggested to the council that the houses, part of a development on the newly-named Finlay Close, could be changed to Matmore Terrace so that postmen and emergency services could differentiate between the roads.

He pointed out two places in Spalding where this action had been taken by the council through the naming of Welland Terrace in London Road and Harvey's Close
in Holbeach Road.

Mr Russell was delighted when magistrates upheld his appeal.
Speaking after the hearing he said: "The appeal was not about money or anything else.

"It was about the fact that my wife lived here and if I had lost I would have wound up selling the place.

"We bought the bungalow together and lived together at number 42 and it should stay that way. I am obviously very pleased at the outcome of the appeal."

Mr Russell raised the issue of how much it would cost to change his address, which magistrates agreed was an expense that existing residents should not have to pay.

South Holland District Council can appeal against the decision at the High Court but residents are due to move onto the new estate in a matter of weeks.

Steve Williams, district council head of planning and development, said that the council is considering the implications of the decision.

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Last Updated: 25 February 2008 4:26 PM