A SCANDINAVIAN couple claim they have been victims of racism in a planning row.

Ole and Laila Heggland have called in the Oxfordshire Racial Equality Council after waiting 21 months for permission to add two loft windows at their home.

The retired couple, of The Holt, Abingdon, have already complained of victimisation by the Vale of White Horse District Council to the local government ombudsman.

Now the racial equality council has written to the Vale for information to see if there is a case for discrimination.

The Hegglands, originally from Denmark and Norway, wanted to add two loft windows, one in the style of an English bay window and the other a small letterbox window. They say the application took a "monstrous" length of time because neighbours felt their £200,000 home was not "English" in design.

The couple had the Scandinavian-style house built in 1987. The row over the bay window application started in 1997 and approval was finally given in June. Proposals for a skylight were approved in December after five planning applications.

Laila said: "This has gone on for such a long time. It has been a terrible strain and has cost us thousands."

She said extensions with windows had been granted at other properties, including one this month, without delays. She added that their house was overlooked by nearly all the other residents.

Their solicitor David Hodson has written to the Vale asking for a full inquiry.

Vale chief executive Terry Stock said: "I can confirm that Mr and Mrs Heggland have complained to the council. I am disappointed that they felt we had let them down. "But I personally examined their case thoroughly and we complied with all the processes properly and fairly. I found no evidence to suggest we behaved improperly to this applicant."

Story date: Saturday 26 February

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