ANGRY residents are threatening to take Ealing Council to court after the go-ahead was given for a large back garden development in Northolt, a decision they and councillors say makes a mockery of local democracy.

Hopes were dashed at a meeting on June 30, at which councillors voted to go back on a unanimous judgment to refuse the three-storey scheme in Blenheim Road.

The earlier decision was made at a similar meeting in May, when council officers approved the project without consulting residents. It was tabled again for discussion by last week's planning committee, made up largely of different councillors from the previous occasion.

Devastated residents say the height of the block, agreed last September, breaks the town hall's own guidelines designed to stop overdevelopment, will put pressure on roads, parking and the sewage system and have no proper access.

Neighbour Rita Khaitan said: "We're disgusted. We can't get our heads around why the previous decision has been revoked. We're going to suffer really badly because of this.

"We're seeking legal advice to see if we can take this to judicial review."

The developer's agent, Nick Sutton, said the flats would be no higher than the surrounding homes as the third floor is built into the roof space, and a survey had shown there is enough parking space.

"The issues have been clearly assessed by the council," he added.

Angry that the development was back for discussion, opposition leader and Greenford Green councillor Jason Stacey said at the meeting: "I think this represents a new low for planning in this borough. I think the members in the last planning meeting made a good decision, although not an easy decision. In my opinion what this comes down to is this is more about what potential costs you are going to face rather than delivering the right judgment."

He criticised the officers for passing the development after failing to realise they had not consulted residents, despite two similar applications being rejected, and accused them of a 'bunker mentality', blaming everyone for the mistake except themselves. He said there was no good reason for the planning commit-tee's change of heart.

The Tory and Lib Dem councillors voted not to overturn the decision, which would have sent the plans to the secretary of state to decide whether to scrap it, but they were outvoted by ruling Labour councillors.

Planning chairman Ray Wall was not available for comment.

A council spokeswoman said the failure to consult residents in September was being investigated by the Local Government Ombudsman, and added: "On May 26 the planning committee resolved to revoke the planning permission. However, planning permission can only be revoked in accordance with the strict statutory procedure set out in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

"Therefore, at the applicant's solicitor's request, the matter was again discussed last night by the planning committee and members decided not to pursue the decision to revoke planning consent."

Follow us on Twitter