MORE than 70 people packed into Huddersfield Town Hall for a hearing into the future a controversial nine-bedroom mansion.
Kirklees Council wants to demolish the £1m building on Huddersfield Road in Mirfield, claiming it is too large.
But house-owner Azam Yaqoob, who owns Mr Sparkles car wash at Webster Hill, Dewsbury, has taken the decision to a planning inquiry.
Kirklees Council gave him permission for an extension but he demolished most of the original building and built a largely new structure.
Councillors then went against the advice of their planning officials in February and refused to give retrospective planning permission to Mr Yaqoob, who has never moved into the house which he bought for £293,000 three years ago.
The 36-year-old vowed to challenge the decision in "every court in the land".
The two-day inquiry began yesterday, chaired by planning inspector David Rusdale.
He heard submissions from town planner Henryk Peterson, Kirklees planning officer John Ritchie and enforcement officer Paul Wood.
Under questioning from Mr Yaqoob's solicitor, Mr Ritchie admitted he believed the mansion's height "would not be materially harmful."
Some members of the public disagreed. Judith Walker, of neighbouring Blake Hall Drive, told the inquiry: "I feel completely overwhelmed by the size of the house."
However, Peter Hutchison, who lives behind the house, disagreed.
He told the inquiry: "I believe that the house effects me more than anyone, but my initial objection that the building was overbearing proved invalid."
The inquiry was continuing today .
