Daydream thread... without the rose-tinted specs

ferretkeeper

Morning yourself! How is everyone? Glad to hear peeps are generally feeling better

I've been reading but not had the energy to write for a while, I did type a reply and lost it so had a paddy on!

The warm weather has kept us really busy, I'm back to getting up early and coming in later and later, waiting for the birds to be ready for bed, meal times are all over the shop again. We're progressing in some areas but other things are slipping.

My builder is down to 2 days a week so that's given me time to catch up between his visits, it's hard enough being organised for myself let alone being ahead of the game to keep others busy.

One of my neighbours has reported me to the planning office for the work we've been doing, an enforcement officer turned up one day last week. I showed him round, he was pretty useless, couldn't answer any questions, including who reported me, guess they don't want to say the wrong thing.

Anyway this week I rang the council and the officer let slip the name of a neighbour, I had strong suspicions it was her, next step is to get a copy of all the complaints made about me over the years, take it to the police and see if she made the rest, I can feel a harassment case coming on.

As it turns out we do need PP for the work we've done, no one can quite believe it... What we've built is lean-to roofs against our outbuildings, to stop rain blowing into the animals' pens and making them swamps, and also given ourselves a decent covered area to work under when it rains...it will be well used!

Anyhow, we know we need permission for the next phase of works so we'll put it all into one app and see how we go. If anything she's done us a favour, no one thought what we were doing needed PP, better to find out now than have to put a second app in down the line. Must send her a thank you card

Thinking about seed sowing here too, but a little concerned about the frosts forecast, my heated propagator is under an illegal lean-to so not very protected, might chance it with some fleece. I sent for some dry coir compost blocks which have arrived now so no excuses.

Ive also got some tulips I forgot about trying to flower in their bags, I really need to pot them up

I hope everyone not posting is still reading and they're ok

Have a good day everyone

COOLTRIKERCHICK

FK isn't there something call retrospective planning permission, where if something has been done, they can come out and inspect, and then pass???


might be wrong though...

ferretkeeper

Yes you're almost right, I will have to apply retrospectively, same procedure, same fee...of course they can refuse and I'd potentially have to take it all down :eek: but I'd be appealing etc if that happened.

My concern is that a notice will still go up on my lamp post, and the evil neighbour will obviously try to object. Hopefully I can discredit her with the harassment thing, but I also need to put together a REALLY strong application to make sure I can have all I need.

We haven't done anything that isn't for reasons of practicality, Animal welfare or our safety - plus we are planning to open up to the public, run craft courses here etc so everything has that in mind including all weather capability.

RAS

ferretkeeper wrote: »

plus we are planning to open up to the public, run craft courses here etc so everything has that in mind including all weather capability.

FK

You need to check whether you need approval for the change of use as well as any physical alterations.

ferretkeeper

Thanks RAS yes we do need change of use for that, plus we need PP for our polytunnel, it's all the other stuff we didn't think needed permission, hey ho! But as I said before it's lucky we didn't do all that sooner as we'd be facing a second app now.

And we've had better luck with the building inspector, he has already been for a quick look, has given us plenty of advice and pointers so that should be plain sailing, just wish I could get hold of the structural engineer he recommended to do an assessment.

I've spent the morning on The Real Seed company's website, soooo many lovely things and I've got plenty of seed already.

Right, spot of lunch then crack on, bacon butties on the menu - I'm taste testing supermarket bacon to know what ours wants to be like, it's a tough job but someone's gotta do it

pink_poppy

Dave, yes I would do the celeriac chips in the oven. Maybe blast them in the microwave for 5 minutes beforehand (already chipped & oiled/seasoned). Hope you like them if you do try them.

lucielle, hope you enjoy the hen party. York is one of my favourite places.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

FK...


things to consider before opening up to the public, for any type of activity etc..


is your place mortgaged? if so, you are then changing it from a private to a business use, so you will need their written permission for this, also they might want to change you to a commercial mortgage will has silly interest rates compared to private.


Your need to apply to the council for change of use, as at the moment I presume you are paying private domestic rates, as it will then be a business premises, and their rates are silly again compared to private rates..


when applying for change of use, your neighbours will be sent a letters, so they can have a chance to air their views etc




You will then have to pay to have your rubbish taken away, as this is not covered by business rates...


Public liability will be a definite ..


These are the things that spring to mind...


I think you are going to have a very bumpy road ahead of you.. with the neighbours...


EDIT..... Fk.. thinking about it, even though you now know who is causing you grief by reporting you etc.. you have only had someone verbally saying its her, you have nothing in writing, and if you ask for it, then they are going to deny any acknowledgement of them saying her name on the phone... so you have no evidence and under the privacy act, or what ever it is, they don't have to disclose to you who is complaining, even under the freedom of information act...

There is more than one way to skin a cat ( as the old saying goes) for us here, its being one step ahead of them at all times... so they have not got the smug satisfaction of knowing they are making life difficult for you etc...


When doing ANYTHING in the future, you know she will complain... so just bare that in mind... and as I say try and be one step ahead with everything...

ferretkeeper

Don't worry CTC were all over it!

Mortgage is all ok, as we wanted a house with agricultural land we discussed trading from the outset, they know we are farming ie business use. Funnily our other property has a commercial mortgage and the rates are almost the same, just LTV is much lower.

Yes I know when we apply for PP change of use the neighbours will know, that's kind of what I meant about the harassment thing giving her arguments no weight. As for the rest, we'll have to see.

The council won't release names to me officially but they will tell me what complaints have come in and when, and in certain circumstances they can release the info to me but...Since the complaints have all been unfounded (til this time) ie RSPCA/animal health last few years I can take the list to the police and they can get the name(s) and we go from there with harassment.

I've been looking into council tax/ business rates - for example our holiday cottage is £900 pa council tax but as business premises rates are £0.

Our council tax at home (same street) is a lot more than that so by splitting the property between home and business, more or less 50-50 our council tax will drop and rates should be low, couldn't get an exact amount from the valuation office til I apply but don't think we'll be worse off.

And Public/product Liability insurance is already required for us selling produce and running courses at another location, it's a bloody minefield keeping the officials happy, but at least there's no agendas there.

Some of the neighbours are going to be tricky, very tricky, but I have lots of local customers. Even the building inspector wanted to buy sausages the other day! I expect I could ask for letters of support from them to help counteract any complaining ones, maybe a petition or something with the honesty box for the eggs etc?

I just have to keep in mind that what we are doing or planning to do is based on very sound principles of ethics and sustainability and we will be an asset to the community making a positive contribution unlike most of them.

rant over, am safely down off soap box !

BTW celeriac baked in a cream sauce with chilli and lots of black pepper is about the only way I'll eat it, excellent H F-W recipe!

Davesnave

I agree with CTC, it's very hard to get the evidence needed for a harassment charge to be made.

At present, one of my relatives is being cyber harassed with fake emails being sent in her name to various businesses, asking them to write her will, find a place for her Mum in a care home, put her house on the market and so on.

This person knows the source of the emails, but has no idea how it can be proved. Again, it's really about the development of a property and the fact that the aggrieved party has run out of legal ways to cause mischief.

RAS

Reni Redzepi scrubs whole celariac and then cooks in liquid butter until cooked through. http://ind.pn/MCQEs2

If it were not for the butter...............

Dave - any luck with the peas? My standard Meteor have germinated but the treated GS have done burger all?