A PENSIONER embroiled in a bitter planning dispute with his neighbours is threatening to sue Hillingdon Council after it used public cash to write to nearly 5,000 homes in Northwood to 'set the record straight'.

Robert Batchelor, 74, of Highfield Crescent, says his neighbours' extension is in breach of planning guidelines.

He has launched his own website urging residents to write to the council to complain, and also hand-delivered leaflets to 8,000 homes in Northwood to highlight the matter.

The council responded by issuing letters to 4,856 homes - at a cost of £2,658.16 - stating Mr Batchelor's leaflet was 'a concerted campaign to besmirch the good name of the council[2026] and publicly misrepresenting the true position to members of the public'.

Mr Batchelor said: "The neighbours applied to build an extension for their home in August 2004, which was refused by the planning committee for being 'detrimental to the architectural harmony of the existing building' and 'detracting from the appearance of the

area'. They submitted a slightly amended proposal in December 2004, with a canopy over the garage and front door, which the committee, satisfied that it met design guidelines, approved."

But Mr Batchelor, a retired magistrate and former headteacher of Hatch End High School, claims builders went ahead with the original proposal without permission.

He has since sent letters and emails demanding the matter be reopened, including one to the Local Government Ombudsman. He has also complained to the MP for Northwood, Nick Hurd.

In a letter seen by the Gazette, Mr Hurd said: "On the face of it, something has been built which should not have been." He called on the council to review the case.

The council said Mr Batchelor was a 'persistent complainer' - which the ombudsman disagreed with - and insisted that, while the building was not in accordance with what had been approved, the differences were not 'material', and enforcement action should not be taken.

Mr Batchelor added: "The council's ghastly letter is threatening, untrue and almost certainly defamatory. I am effectively being accused of being a liar and an idiot.

"I am a vulnerable 74-year-old man and feel frightened about what the council might do next. I want a public written apology, plus an independent enquiry into the matter, and damages."

Hugh Dunnachie, chief executive at the council, said: "The council became aware that Mr Batchelor had distributed a leaflet to all Northwood residents giving inaccurate information about a planning decision in relation to a neighbouring property.

"In response, the council strongly felt that it was in the public interest to set the record straight and give residents a balanced understanding of the situation.

"We wrote to Northwood residents to set out the facts. This included a copy of a letter, sent to Mr Batchelor by the borough solicitor, as we had already been informed that he was going to publish it on his website."

* What do you think? Send an email to Gazette reporter Siba Matti at sibamatti@trinitysouth.co.uk  or post a comment at http://northwood.uxbridgegazette.co.uk .