A PLANNING officer at Herefordshire Council has left her job to stand as a county councillor.

Ange Tyler says a lack of support for residents facing planning decisions that will affect people’s quality of life is one of the matters which prompted her to stand for the new Aylestone Hill ward in Hereford.

The 51-year-old’s former job included coming up with recommendations for approval or refusal of planning applications that were to be heard and voted on by the council’s planning committee.

“I found it was harder now for the general public when it comes to planning applications,” said Mrs Tyler, who will be standing for the Independent group.

“People don’t really understand the process and how to object.

“You should oppose things if it affects you. It’s about understanding what you need to do. But you can overcome them.”

She said a big case in her would-be ward is an planning application by Bovis Homes for up to 135 homes off Aylestone Hill which was rejected, although this is now the subject of an appeal.

Mrs Tyler joined the council in 1993. She went part-time in 2010 following the tragic death of her daughter, 23-year-old Emma Young, who died in 2011 following a road crash near Trumpet.

“I’ve enjoyed my time with the council but my path is going in a different direction now,” she said.

“I want to help people and give a bit back.”

Following her daughter’s death she went on to set up the ELY Memorial Fund.

Mrs Tyler has lived in the ward for more than 20 years, during which time she says she has watched the “deterioration of facilities and services for all ages”.

“Having no such facilities for everyone in this ward means a lack of integration and happy communities,” she said.

“This spurred me to join the former community group called North Tupsley Action Group seven years ago to help all ages within the community.

“The closure of the White House pub offered an opportunity to develop a community centre for all our needs so I also became a board member of the Tupsley Whitehouse Project.

“Unfortunately, the project after four years has not materialised, leaving the building empty when everyone could be using it for their everyday activities.”