Calls for council leader to quit over Corby warehouse error

The warehouse is under construction not far from Hooke Close

People living near a giant warehouse built after planning process errors are calling for a council leader to resign.

North Northamptonshire Council approved the new warehouse on the old Weetabix site by Hooke Close, Corby in November.

But the consultation on the scheme was mistakenly carried out in nearby Hubble Road, about half a mile away (750m).

Residents attended a meeting with the leader of North Northamptonshire Council, Jason Smithers, who told the BBC he did not intend to step down.

He has previously apologised for the consultation error but said the planning decision was lawful as notices were displayed nearby, so any challenge was unlikely to succeed.

The huge structure was built after residents in the wrong street were consulted on the plans

Anne, one of the affected residents, attended Thursday's meeting with the council leader and said: "We are furious, to say the least.

"The information that they've come back with is basically what we handed them on a plate at our last meeting, so, as far as we're concerned, we're no further forward than we were three weeks ago."

• Woman 'let down' by council's warehouse development error

• Council leader urges people to complain about wrong-street blunder

• MP calls for 'proper answers' over giant warehouse

Hayley and Anne, both residents of Hooke Close, said they were disappointed with their meeting with the council leader

Fellow resident Hayley said: "We're asking for a public interest report into the council's failures, we're also asking for the council to judicially review themselves, we have no confidence in the council leader whatsoever and are calling on him to make his resignation."

She added the warehouse was having a massive impact on her life and she wanted it to be taken down, although she believed that was unlikely to happen.

Council leader Jason Smithers said he would not be resigning

The council leader, Jason Smithers, said: "We absolutely understand the frustration caused to neighbouring residents of the development site and would like to apologise for any errors.

"Residents can be assured that we are doing all we can to ensure a similar issue doesn't happen again, by improving the current planning processes."We will now consider the next steps and have committed to meet with residents again in the coming weeks."