A businessman who bought the former municipal loos in Marsh is threatening a standoff.

He says he will leave it as an “eyesore” and target for vandals after Kirklees Council planners rejected his latest scheme.

Deepak Govindram had hoped to convert the derelict building next to The Croppers Arms into a retail outlet with an apartment above but his plans have now been rejected for a second time by Kirklees planners.

An earlier appeal for the original application was also dismissed by planning inspector Chris Ceckley who said the plans would cause “serious harm to the appearance and character of the area and the setting of the adjacent listed building.”

Mr Govindram said: “The new design I submitted has more than doubled my initial cost.

“The new structure us a full stone building and has a pitched roof which in keeping with the Grade II list Croppers Arms and the pharmacy building opposite.”

He said planners disliked the fact that the proposed structure is taller than the brick wall behind the building.

He said: “I think this is simply unacceptable. They simply want a single storey building which is just not financially viable.

“There is evidence of new graffiti on the existing building, vandalism such as a broken wall adjacent to the toilet and syringes clearly show drug use.

“I’m only trying to develop the area to improve not only the street scene but also the social element. This has also been acknowledged by a number of local businesses and residents.”

Former public toilets behind Cropper's Arms in Marsh.
Former public toilets behind Cropper's Arms in Marsh.

He said he was annoyed that planners had not taken his application to committee so it could be voted upon by councillors instead of being decided under delegated powers.

As to its future he said he had a large property portfolio and was prepared to leave the building as it is for as long as five years when he might consider putting an application in again.

Greenhead councillor, Mehboob Khan, said: “It looks fine to me. The roof seems to be a natural extension of the building.

“On balance I’m in favour of it being accepted, after all it would be a case of bringing a derelict building back into use.”

In its decision Kirklees planners explained their judgment saying: “The building, due to its site coverage and height, would constitute an over-development of the site failing to respect the pattern of development in the area.

“Its design would present a harmfully prominent and jarring feature within the Westbourne Road street scene and would detract from the setting of the adjacent listed public house, a heritage asset of importance.”