{"id":187329,"date":"2023-09-25T10:57:10","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T10:57:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsneednews.com\/?p=187329"},"modified":"2023-09-25T10:57:10","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T10:57:10","slug":"i-was-denied-permission-to-turn-an-ugly-old-takeaway-into-an-incredible-three-storey-home-so-i-got-my-revenge-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsneednews.com\/lifestyle\/i-was-denied-permission-to-turn-an-ugly-old-takeaway-into-an-incredible-three-storey-home-so-i-got-my-revenge-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"I was denied permission to turn an ugly old takeaway into an incredible three-storey home – so I got my revenge | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"
A FUMING builder has told how he his got revenge after being denied planning permission.<\/p>\n
Michael Thomas, 71, was furious when his plan to convert an old pizza takeaway into a three-storey, seven bedroom, house in multiple occupation (HMO), was rejected.<\/p>\n
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Trowbridge Town Council leader Stewart Palmen objected to the project and put an enforcement notice in place to halt the building project.<\/p>\n
Mr Thomas has now taken his revenge by erecting a stone gargoyle of Cllr Palmen on his roof.<\/p>\n
The effigy – sporting half-moon spectacles and sticking his tongue out – now adorns the side of the disputed property in the Wiltshire town.<\/p>\n
Cllr Palmen, 61, says he was "flattered" by the gargoyle which appeared on the building last week.<\/p>\n
He said: "It's just been quite amusing. He just started constructing [the HMO] without any planning permission in 2020.<\/p>\n
"I reported him to enforcement and in the end, he applied, and it was refused along with his appeals.<\/p>\n
"He's taken it quite personally and believes the council have dobbed him in.<\/p>\n
"He seems to have vendetta against myself – but I quite like gargoyle and would love for it to stay.<\/p>\n
<\/picture>BILL CHECK<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/picture>GARDEN FUN <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/picture>GAFFER’S NEW GAFF <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/picture>CAN’T STAND IT <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n "I don't have an issue with it but there is a serious side to it, there's a court<\/span> date on the fact he hasn't returned the building to what it was."<\/p>\n Mr Thomas found himself at the centre of legal action from Wiltshire Council after he continued building work on the Newtown property despite an enforcement notice.<\/p>\n After being issued a temporary stop notice on the project, Mr Thomas vowed to complete the conversion.<\/p>\n Following objections from Cllr Palmen and local residents, the stop notice was superseded by an enforcement notice in September 2020.<\/p>\n He then applied for planning permission which was refused by Wiltshire Council in June 2022.<\/p>\n The council refused the project saying it "detracts from the character and appearance of the area".<\/p>\n In May this year, an inspector upheld the council's decision after Mr Thomas launched yet another appeal.<\/p>\n In retaliation, Mr Thomas launched a protest against the council by attaching a banner to the scaffolding around the property.<\/p>\n The banner read: "Wiltshire council invests time and energy<\/span> in green field developments and long developers outside and around Trowbridge at a profit while actively hindering small building developers trying to fill a need for accommodation for those who do not qualify for the more expensive out of town accommodation."<\/p>\n The building itself is not listed, but is located in a conservation area.<\/p>\n In June Mr Thomas said he was even willing to go to prison<\/span> over the dispute. He fumed: "They don't follow the rules, they make them up as they go along.<\/p>\n "If council officers are not following the rules, why should I?<\/p>\n "I am going to carry on building against their order and allow them to take me to court.<\/p>\nWarning for millions to take energy meter reading NOW ahead of price cap change<\/h3>\n
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