Sue Wilkinson
Member
- Messages
- 187
- Location
- Northamptonshire
Does anyone know the rules on this one?
I'm a parish councillor and last week I was asked by one of the villagers to investigate the noise of a digger at work on the site of a castle which has recently been sold along with a house.
English Heritage have forbidden almost anything happening on the castle mound. But on this day a digger was at work.
The house and barns are being 'restored' (by that I mean through restoration and out the other side. Its all over the top and too invassive in my opinion) so I found the site foreman and asked what was happening. He said it was nothing to do with them. It was the landscapers. He told me how to get round there. I went and asked what was happening and if there was permission. The two chaps thought there was permission, there was certainly a plan. I talked to them for a bit and left.
I didn't need to do anything else as the person who asked me to look also phoned the conservation officer who came out and informed English Heritage who seem to have said there wasn't permission. Anyway, yesterday the new owner and his wife turned up on my doorstep (first time in over 2 years that I'd met them) and berated me for a couple of things, but one was about my trespassing on their property to investigate this complaint. I was told I had no right, I must not do this again and if anyone else wanted anything else checking out I should wait until the next parish council meeting and bring it up then. (By which time an entire estate footings could be in place!).
All in all they were horrid and threatened me with calling the police because I'd 'stolen' some stone to repair my wall, even though I'd asked the builders if I could have some off the spoil heap destined for the landfill site, great new neighbours they will be. Fortunately they are over the road and set back, so apart from being able to see their wealth on display I can't see that I'll have to look at them personally too often. Their attitude was very predatory and accusatory. They have spent millions on the place and they objected to me having a few stones. But of course they were most narked because I'd caused them to be caught, or so they thought. So, can they get the law onto me if someone asks me to check out anything else? Or should I just get on with it like last time? They have a history of getting away with some things by claiming they didn't know, or some such rubbish.
If no one has a right to investigate what's going on with a listed building or heritage site how can we ever stop them being damaged.
What do you think?
Sue
I'm a parish councillor and last week I was asked by one of the villagers to investigate the noise of a digger at work on the site of a castle which has recently been sold along with a house.
English Heritage have forbidden almost anything happening on the castle mound. But on this day a digger was at work.
The house and barns are being 'restored' (by that I mean through restoration and out the other side. Its all over the top and too invassive in my opinion) so I found the site foreman and asked what was happening. He said it was nothing to do with them. It was the landscapers. He told me how to get round there. I went and asked what was happening and if there was permission. The two chaps thought there was permission, there was certainly a plan. I talked to them for a bit and left.
I didn't need to do anything else as the person who asked me to look also phoned the conservation officer who came out and informed English Heritage who seem to have said there wasn't permission. Anyway, yesterday the new owner and his wife turned up on my doorstep (first time in over 2 years that I'd met them) and berated me for a couple of things, but one was about my trespassing on their property to investigate this complaint. I was told I had no right, I must not do this again and if anyone else wanted anything else checking out I should wait until the next parish council meeting and bring it up then. (By which time an entire estate footings could be in place!).
All in all they were horrid and threatened me with calling the police because I'd 'stolen' some stone to repair my wall, even though I'd asked the builders if I could have some off the spoil heap destined for the landfill site, great new neighbours they will be. Fortunately they are over the road and set back, so apart from being able to see their wealth on display I can't see that I'll have to look at them personally too often. Their attitude was very predatory and accusatory. They have spent millions on the place and they objected to me having a few stones. But of course they were most narked because I'd caused them to be caught, or so they thought. So, can they get the law onto me if someone asks me to check out anything else? Or should I just get on with it like last time? They have a history of getting away with some things by claiming they didn't know, or some such rubbish.
If no one has a right to investigate what's going on with a listed building or heritage site how can we ever stop them being damaged.
What do you think?
Sue