'illegal' mock-Tudor castle he tried to hide behind 40ft hay bales

planning_officer

Yes, the original enforcement notice served by the council required him to demolish it (that was served on 16 February 2007), but as he appealed it the notice is in effect suspended until the Inspector's appeal decision is announced. The appeal (Inquiry) took place between Jan-Mar 2008 and the Inspector's decision was published on 7 May 2008. The Inspector dismissed the appeal, ordering Mr Fidler to demolish it (therefore he hasn't "got out of it")- the appeal decision gave him 12 months to demolish it, which technically expires on 6 May 2009. So there has not actually been a legal requirement for Mr Fidler to demolish it before May this year.

If he does not comply with the deadline, he will be committing a criminal offence and can be prosecuted. The Council also have the right to demolish it for him and charge him the full cost of demolition. In practice, if 6 May arrives and it's still there, depending on how lenient the Council are, they will probably send him a letter stating that they will have it demolished if he doesn't do it within, say, a month. I know which contractor will be doing the demolition if the Council are forced to use them!

lostinrates

It jut seems -sad- the council will be prepared to pay to demolish this 'house' when so many people are so short of money and housing ATM and the materials used are probably at a premium. Again, I have sympathy for the planners and I don't like the house....but I wonderif his house impacts as much as....I don't know...someone with immediate neighbours whose failure to adhere to planning is impinging on their quality of life.

I imagine he could get together some people to do a sit in or something, couldn't he?

crazygaijin

be interesting to see, I still think it will be there somehow after May.

But we will see.

planning_officer

lostinrates wrote: »

It jut seems -sad- the council will be prepared to pay to demolish this 'house' when so many people are so short of money and housing ATM and the materials used are probably at a premium. Again, I have sympathy for the planners and I don't like the house....but I wonderif his house impacts as much as....I don't know...someone with immediate neighbours whose failure to adhere to planning is impinging on their quality of life.

I imagine he could get together some people to do a sit in or something, couldn't he?

The Council are not paying for the demolition - Mr Fidler will foot the entire bill! Most of the materials are fully recyclable. His house is in the open Green Belt and is very strictly against any national and local planning policy - what kind of message does allowing him to retain this house send out? Anyone will be trying their luck to build houses all over the countryside which would obviously have a great impact on the Green Belt and the landscape.

Debt_Free_Chick

lostinrates wrote: »

It jut seems -sad- the council will be prepared to pay to demolish this 'house' when so many people are so short of money and housing ATM and the materials used are probably at a premium.

They'll send the bill to Mr Fidler

Again, I have sympathy for the planners and I don't like the house....but I wonderif his house impacts as much as....I don't know...someone with immediate neighbours whose failure to adhere to planning is impinging on their quality of life.

I imagine he could get together some people to do a sit in or something, couldn't he?

Planners just enforce the law and in this case, the Planning Inspectorate - a completely separate authority - agreed with the local planners. So it's not just a "local" opinion/decision.

novazombie

The deadline has come and gone once again and yet it still stands.

How many more deadlines will come and go and all the time he is getting away with it.

Yoshua

novazombie wrote: »

The deadline has come and gone once again and yet it still stands.

How many more deadlines will come and go and all the time he is getting away with it.

actually the deadline is today.

Can anyone tell us is it still standing?

MrsE_2

Yoshua wrote: »

actually the deadline is today.

Can anyone tell us is it still standing?

It was there yesterday:D

I pass it to & from work.

novazombie

If you pass it everyday can you tell us if the demolition crew start smashing it up.

What is happening now?

Will it be the same thing next year?

roddydogs

bump........