Antiques dealer 'may quit Barnard Castle' over planning wrangle

A BARNARD Castle antiques dealer is threatening to leave the town after spending £300,000 on a new shop that he may not be able to use because of a planning wrangle.

Paul Ing bought the former Wilkinson’s gun shop, in Horsemarket, to expand his business, Ingnet Decorative Arts, which was located on The Bank.

But now a dispute over the installation of an acoustic ceiling and soundproofing has him wondering about moving away from the town.

Mr Ing was recently joined in business by his son, Charlie, and the plan was to move into the ground floor of the Horsemarket property and his son move into the upstairs area.

But planners say some sort of sound-proofing has to be installed because of the mixed use of retail and residential in the building. The 50-year-old said: “We thought we would buy the gun shop and expand the businesses, and change the upstairs into residential where Charlie can live.

“Now we have to spend another load of money on architects fees and we don’t even know what specs they want. I am livid. I have probably spent close to £300,000. I thought I would spend some more and do it up properly and save another property in the town. And this is what happens. I should have moved to Yarm or I should have opened my business in Richmond.”

Mr Ing added that he may have to rent to the property out, possibly making another charity shop in the town.

The antiques dealer said his plans were to install soundproof flooring upstairs and to put in special soundproofing foam in the ceiling. However, the installation of a false ceiling in the shop would be impossible in the main sales area because it is already so low, he said. He would not be able to hang his antique lighting in the showroom.

His son added: “I am frustrated. I want to move on and move forward and get on. It has taken eight or nine weeks just to get a response. At the moment we can't continue.

“I am the one living upstairs and any way it is just antiques down here. This isn’t Beauty and The Beast where the antiques come alive and have a party downstairs.”

The pair have already done extensive work to bring the property up to standard including putting in entirely new electric cabling.

County planners say they have been in regular contact with the antiques dealer and are working to find a solution to the problem.

Stuart Timmiss, Durham County Council’s head of planning and assets, said: “We have been in discussions with Mr Ing on a regular basis from his initial contact with us about redeveloping this site and granted planning permission at the first time of asking, within the eight week timeframe.

“Early in the application process, we informed Mr Ing that sound proofing measures of some kind would be required as is often the case with properties in mixed commercial and residential use. While we mentioned the possible creation of a false ceiling, we have explained that we are more than happy to consider alternatives and have provided advice on how insulation could be used.

“We will continue to work with Mr Ing towards finding a mutually acceptable solution.”