A BED and breakfast business which has been operating without authorisaton at an address in Baughurst has been granted retrospective planning permission by the borough council.

Several letters of objection were written about the planning application and Tadley Town Council also objected, stating: “This type of business is totally inappropriate in this area and could set a precedent.”

Speaking at the development control committee meeting on behalf of a group of neighbours, Penny Waterfield said they had a number of issues, including the noise, problems with parking and the “disregard for the local community”.

Ann Merrick, who owns the property in Sheridan Crescent, and has been running the operation for a number of years said she was unaware she needed to apply for planning permission.

Borough councillors were told by officers that the need for such permission was a “grey area”.

The council first became aware of the operation after a complaint in August 2011.

Mrs Merrick said: “I thought there was a good relationship with my neighbours.”

She said that parking was not an issue, adding: “The people that stay with me – over 70 per cent of them do not have vehicles.” She said many guests were workers at nearby AWE.

Only two of the rooms in the property were used as rooms for the bed and breakfast, she said.

Committee member Cllr Diane Taylor said there seemed no reason to refuse the application. She said: “I appreciate that there are difficulties but if this particular application meets our own parking standards I do not think we can do anything but accept it.”