Council computer system has erection problem

n the often dull language of planning applications, the word "erection" does not exactly have Benny Hill connotations.

But that is not the way Rochdale borough council's computer system saw it and two e-mails from Ray Kennedy, a lawyer, of Middleton, near Manchester, opposing his neighbour's house extension - and containing the word "erection" - were banned as being sexually offensive.

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Mr Kennedy told the Manchester Evening News: "They said it was because the e-mails had been stopped by their software because of the word 'erection', which is a normal term they use every day in planning. But it was stopped because it had another meaning. I was shocked. I couldn't believe that they didn't review e-mails that come in and are stopped in that manner. Mine was a perfectly legitimate letter dealing with my objections.

"I was told it was too late, that the decision had already been made and that the only way I could reverse it was by going to the courts to get a judicial review. That would be very expensive for myself and the council tax payers of Rochdale and Middleton. If it did not affect me then I would no doubt find it funny.

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