A NEW mezzanine floor in Hull's Central Library could be removed after being installed without planning approval.
For the second time, planning councillors have rejected a retrospective application by their own authority to retain the structure.
If the latest refusal is confirmed by Secretary of State Eric Pickles, it could see the mezzanine floor and a connecting steel staircase being taken out of the new-look music library in the Albion Street venue.
It cost £23,750 to install, with funding coming from the James Reckitt Library Trust.
Formal approval for the new floor should have been obtained before work started because of the library's grade two listed building status.
Speaking at this week's planning committee, Councillor Tom McVie said: "I find it astonishing that a section of the council goes ahead with changes to a listed building without even contacting the planning department."
He claimed the modern design of the floor and staircase was at odds with the room's original Victorian architectural features, which had been exposed after the removal of a suspended ceiling and stud wall.
"The mezzanine is a modernist design and the flaw is putting the floor and the staircase in that space," Cllr McVie said.
Local historian John Morfin, who also lodged an official objection, described the mezzanine floor as "hideous". He told the committee he believed the council had been "irresponsible" for installing the mezzanine floor without the necessary planning approval in place.
"Listed building legislation is quite simple to understand," he said.
"Any alteration will require listed building consent.
"However, this appears to be beyond the understanding of the library management."
Committee chairman Councillor Sean Chaytor was not impressed by additional proposals to paint the room's dark grey cross beams white to give the illusion of more space.
He said the latest application to secure belated planning permission had failed to heed any of the concerns raised last December, when the first application was refused.
"These proposals do not address the fundamental issue here and offering to change the colour of the beams does not amount to a great deal of change," he said.
Cllr Chaytor said the potential open vista created by the removal of the room's suspended ceiling and previously hidden ventilation pipework had been ruined by the new floor.
Phil Vozza, managing director of project contractors NPS, said: "We are obviously disappointed with the decision. We have worked hard to produce a scheme that meets all the necessary health and safety and planning requirements but will now work with the council to determine a way forward."
