21-05-2025
Hundreds back village shop in dispute over 'character'
Hundreds of people have backed a village shop after the owners were ordered to remove a new wheelchair-accessible and Ajantha Kokulakumar failed to seek planning permission for the work at the store and post office in Roos, East from East Riding of Yorkshire Council argued the alterations created a "characterless frontage" and harmed the appearance of the surrounding conservation than 400 people have signed a petition urging the authority to allow the door to remain in place after the Kokulakumars said reversing the changes would be financially ruinous.
The Kokulakumars took over store in July 2024 and closed it for two months to carry out renovations. They boarded up the original doorway and knocked out a window to install a larger entrance, wheelchair ramp and security they reopened in September, they received a letter from the council ordering them to submit a retrospective planning application – which was later couple appealed, but this was turned down by the planning inspectorate earlier this month.
Mrs Kokulakumar said she was worried about what might happen next. But she added: "Most of the customers are supporting us. We are right to help the older people – that's why we have done this."She admitted they made a mistake by not seeking permission, but said they made the changes for the benefit of the the new door and reinstating the old one would force them to move their service counter and rearrange and refit the entire Coffin, who lives in the village, said he thought the door should remain in place because it was "particularly good for disabled access".
He suggested an artificial door could be used in place of the old boarded-up resident Ron Symes criticised the council's decision and added: "What's wrong with it? It's ideal for wheelchairs."In a statement, the council said the store played "a central role within the conservation area", but the works were "overtly modern".The use of "unsympathetic materials" had created "a prominent, unfamiliar and incongruous addition" to the the council said it would "be looking to work proactively with the applicant to address the unauthorised development and try to overcome the concerns raised".Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
