It was only a little planning application to turn a semi-detached cottage at Cuckfield into a terraced property by building next door to it.

Mid Sussex District Council approved the development without telling Peter Davis and Jane Pullen who live there.

It was a bad mistake by the council, which should have notified the couple and heard their objection before making a decision.

The council is now saying even if the couple had protested it probably wouldn't have made much difference as other objections were considered.

But it doesn't know that. The couple might have made a compelling case to councillors and officials that would have changed their minds. It sometimes happens.

Sadly, there is nothing that can now be done to have the matter heard again and possibly to reverse the decision.

But there are ways of gaining belated justice and even compensation from this crass error.