A PLANNING row has broken out after a Tynedale couple were told the access ramp outside their home required planning permission.

78-year-old William Hogarth said he and his wife Sylvia (74) have had the ramp outside their Grade-II listed home at Sandhoe for more than 10 years, from when Mrs Hogarth used to run a physiotheraphy clinic at the property.

Mr Hogarth said the ramp is now necessary for his wife who has had two strokes in the past four years and needs to use a wheelchair and a Zimmer frame.

The couple were first notified by Northumberland County Council in November that the timber ramp was unauthorised, and that they needed to apply for planning permission and listed building consent.

"It's discrimination against disabled people," said Mr Hogarth.

Mr Hogarth also said it is "nonsense" that the freestanding ramp has an impact on the listed building, and questioned why it wasn't mentioned when planning officers visited his home over two years ago when he was required to move a satellite dish which was above the ramp.

"Is the setting of a listed building more important than the people who have lived here for forty years?"

Hexham Courant: The access ramp at Mr and Mrs Hogarth's home in Sandhoe.The access ramp at Mr and Mrs Hogarth's home in Sandhoe.

A site visit from planning officers was carried out last Wednesday (March 16), and police were contacted following a dispute.

"It's causing me a lot of stress," said Mr Hogarth.

"Why should we have to put up with it at my age?"

A Northumberland County Council spokesperson said: "It was reported to the council that a wooden ramp/staircase had been erected at the property without planning permission and listed building consent. 

"The Council is sympathetic to the resident's needs and following a visit we invited them to submit the correct applications - we have not said they can't have the structure.

"We followed up the visit by email the following day to confirm that permission is needed and now await the submission of the applications."

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “Shortly after 11.20am on March 16, we received a report of a verbal dispute having taken place near High House in Sandhoe.

“Enquiries into the incident are on-going.”