A fuming builder has put an enormous stone gargoyle of a council chief on his roof as a bitter planning row turns ugly.
Michael Thomas, 71, was livid when his plan to transform an previous pizza takeaway right into a three-storey, seven-bedroom, home in a number of occupation (HMO), was rejected.
Trowbridge City Council chief Stewart Palmen objected to the venture and put an enforcement discover in place to halt the constructing venture.
Mr Thomas has now taken his revenge by erecting a stone gargoyle of Cllr Palmen.
The effigy – sporting half-moon spectacles and sticking his tongue out – now adorns the aspect of the disputed property within the Wiltshire city.
Cllr Palmen, 61, says he was “flattered” by the gargoyle which appeared on the constructing final week.
He stated: “It’s simply been fairly amusing. He simply began setting up [the HMO] with none planning permission in 2020.
“I reported him to enforcement and ultimately, he utilized, and it was refused alongside together with his appeals.
“He’s taken it fairly personally and believes the council have dobbed him in.
“He appears to have a vendetta towards myself – however I fairly just like the gargoyle and would love for it to remain.
“I don’t have a difficulty with it however there’s a critical aspect to it, there’s a court docket date on the very fact he hasn’t returned the constructing to what it was.”
Mr Thomas discovered himself on the centre of authorized motion from Wiltshire Council after he continued constructing work on the Newtown property regardless of an enforcement discover.
After being issued a brief cease discover on the venture, Mr Thomas vowed to finish the conversion.
Following objections from Cllr Palmen and native residents, the cease discover was outdated by an enforcement discover in September 2020.
He then utilized for planning permission which was refused by Wiltshire Council in June 2022.
The council refused the venture saying it “detracts from the character and look of the realm”.
Councillor Stewart Palmen
(Tom Wren SWNS)
In Could this yr, an inspector upheld the council’s determination after Mr Thomas launched yet one more enchantment.
In retaliation, Mr Thomas launched a protest towards the council by attaching a banner to the scaffolding across the property.
The banner learn: “Wiltshire council invests time and power in inexperienced area developments and lengthy builders exterior and round Trowbridge at a revenue whereas actively hindering small constructing builders attempting to fill a necessity for lodging for many who don’t qualify for the costlier out of city lodging.”
The constructing itself isn’t listed however is situated in a conservation space.
In June Mr Thomas stated he was even keen to go to jail over the dispute. He fumed: “They don’t observe the foundations, they make them up as they go alongside.
“If council officers should not following the foundations, why ought to I?
“I’m going to hold on constructing towards their order and permit them to take me to court docket.
“I’m not afraid of going to jail, I’ve been jailed twice earlier than and I’m instructed that nowadays they’ve bathrooms and televisions so I don’t assume that it will likely be a hardship.”
Mr Thomas has been ordered to attend Swindon Magistrates’ Court docket on October 27 to face a cost of failing to adjust to the enforcement discover.
