Kington residents are said to be in uproar after plans to build four houses next to a controversial chapel development were approved “without public discussion” despite objections from the town council and the local member.

County councillor Terry James said “everyone was appalled” to discover Herefordshire Council officers had passed the affordable homes off Crabtree Road last month without putting them before its planning committee first.

“I am very, very angry. It just shows that planning is becoming something that is done behind closed doors,” he said.

“The public and local communities are taken no notice of whatsoever.”

Changes to streamline the procedure for smaller applications, intended to leave committee members free to discuss larger ones, were made last year to help them deal with a backlog of proposals.

In this case, applicant J R Homes (Wales) Ltd had already caused controversy when plans to create nine one-bedroom flats at the old Wesleyan Chapel next door were also approved in 2009 despite local opposition.

Now it has the right to build four more properties inside the listed building’s curtilage provided construction begins within 12 months and work on the chapel itself is completed beforehand.

Kington Town Council planning committee drafted a formal objection based on planning policy and concerns regarding the current economic climate last November but heard nothing back, chairman Councillor Elizabeth Banks said.

Councillor James also spoke to officers beforehand and received an answering machine message from them last month, after which a decision was made “within 24 hours” he said.

No response had been received from Herefordshire Council by the Hereford Times at the time of going to press.