We had something a few years back that was similar radstockjeff, ( so they couldn't blame Covid). We decided to add to / modify something which we'd got permission for planning, and built, a few years before. So we drew up plans, elevations, according to BS for modifications, and applied. "Planning" seemed to have no record of original building work, but we knew 'cos we'd not only drawn it all out but also built it, and had it appropriately inspected at the time. We'd kept copies .... but they hadn't.
"They" wouldn't accept our file of drawings, correspondence etc, but insisted on us exposing part of the foundations, to ensure that they complied with the original specifications .... even though they'd done all that a mere four or five years before!
We completely understand your rant.
And, just to add to our delight, this morning our central heating boiler has packed up. Oh joy, of delight.
TY
