A weekly newspaper is campaigning for a full inquiry into claims councillors on its patch are flouting planning rules.

The Coventry Observer says an inquiry is needed at Coventry City Council to prevent further allegations of “special favours” being called in to grant planning permission for councillors’ homes and businesses.

The Observer has in recent weeks alleged councillors have broken the authority’s own rule, which states that any planning application where a councillor has “an interest” should instead by decided openly by elected members at a planning committee.

It says a planning application last year for a converted family home, lived in by Coventry councillor Rachel Lancaster and her mother Margaret, received planning permission from council officers.

Another councillor, Rois Ali, became joint owner a former pet shop while a planning application was be processed to convert it into a restaurant/takeaway, with officers later giving the green light to the switch.

The Observer called for an inquiry into the “farce” on its front page on Thursday.

In a piece launching the campaign, deputy editor Les Reid wrote: “We say the entire saga must now be subject to a full and open inquiry, if public confidence is to be restored. If the council won’t act, then an independent body must step in to investigate.

“As we suggested last week, an inquiry is needed to prevent further allegations of special favours – of there being one rule for councillors and another for everyone else.”

The authority told the Observer earlier this month: “The council is satisfied that its officers have acted appropriately.”