spandit Posted January 12, 2018 Report Share Posted January 12, 2018 I am fortunate to be the owner of a few acres in the SE, which is comprised of 2 fields. The lower one is extremely boggy in places and had a small, rather overgrown and temporary pond. With the help of a friend and a big digger, we made a much larger pond, not realising that I should have sought planning permission first. After a visit from an enforcement officer, I duly submitted a retrospective planning application which after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing was finally accepted for submission in September with decision due on Christmas Day (because I'm sure they'd be working then!) The council planning officer assigned to the case sent a request for more detailed plans and information on December 21st, having only performed a site visit the week before. Obviously the deadline was missed and she announced yesterday she was going to visit today with a drainage engineer. I would be away at work all day and replied that I'd rather be there when they visited but she retorted that I wasn't needed and it was nothing to do with me anyway. After a threat that the application would just be rejected outright if I didn't allow them to visit the land, I relented, sending her a letter via e-mail to be careful where they step. Today, after her visit with the engineer, I received the following e-mail: Quote My colleague lost his boot in the course of the site visit on shallow side pond - we were unable to pull it out and had to leave it. Perhaps your contractor will be able to remove it. Just thought you should be aware. To walk back to the road where they parked is about 150 yards and I'm gutted I didn't have the trailcam set up to witness the spectacle! I still think she's going to be difficult over the application but it cheered me up no end! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted January 12, 2018 Report Share Posted January 12, 2018 6 minutes ago, spandit said: I am fortunate to be the owner of a few acres in the SE, which is comprised of 2 fields. The lower one is extremely boggy in places and had a small, rather overgrown and temporary pond. With the help of a friend and a big digger, we made a much larger pond, not realising that I should have sought planning permission first. After a visit from an enforcement officer, I duly submitted a retrospective planning application which after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing was finally accepted for submission in September with decision due on Christmas Day (because I'm sure they'd be working then!) The council planning officer assigned to the case sent a request for more detailed plans and information on December 21st, having only performed a site visit the week before. Obviously the deadline was missed and she announced yesterday she was going to visit today with a drainage engineer. I would be away at work all day and replied that I'd rather be there when they visited but she retorted that I wasn't needed and it was nothing to do with me anyway. After a threat that the application would just be rejected outright if I didn't allow them to visit the land, I relented, sending her a letter via e-mail to be careful where they step. Today, after her visit with the engineer, I received the following e-mail: To walk back to the road where they parked is about 150 yards and I'm gutted I didn't have the trailcam set up to witness the spectacle! I still think she's going to be difficult over the application but it cheered me up no end! hello, do you not just love these jobs worth people should have been quick sand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted January 12, 2018 Report Share Posted January 12, 2018 That is something to dine out on for weeks! excellent stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted January 12, 2018 Report Share Posted January 12, 2018 you just know that theyre going to try and make you pay for a new pair of boots and socks lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted January 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2018 Just now, mel b3 said: you just know that theyre going to try and make you pay for a new pair of boots and socks lol. They can take it out of the money I receive when I sue them for criminal damage to my nature habitat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted January 12, 2018 Report Share Posted January 12, 2018 4 minutes ago, spandit said: They can take it out of the money I receive when I sue them for criminal damage to my nature habitat leaving the boot was irresponsible , it could pollute the pond , you may need to get a specialist in to remove the boot , obviously the council would foot the bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazycooker Posted January 12, 2018 Report Share Posted January 12, 2018 I’d phone them up and say some one has been flytipping used rubbers and you have a confession from the culprits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted January 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2018 Went out just now to see if I could find it. I did. They've pulled over some newly planted trees in an attempt to get out. I've informed my solicitor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted January 12, 2018 Report Share Posted January 12, 2018 remove the boot and buy a child's size the same and say it shrunk in the wash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted January 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2018 21 minutes ago, Saltings said: remove the boot and buy a child's size the same and say it shrunk in the wash I'd rather get them interviewed by the police Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted January 12, 2018 Report Share Posted January 12, 2018 (edited) 9 minutes ago, spandit said: I'd rather get them interviewed by the police jobsworth don't like being interviewed by police also complaint to council stating clash of personalities have worked in my favour in the past cant make you make the pond smaller as they don't know what size it was to start off with you only cleaned the edges up and got rid of weeds and their roots etc Edited January 12, 2018 by Saltings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted January 12, 2018 Report Share Posted January 12, 2018 Keep us informed this could be good.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted January 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2018 Look out for a picture of a distressed home owner sadly looking at his vandalised trees in the Daily Mail sometime soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted January 13, 2018 Report Share Posted January 13, 2018 Aren't you only supposed to leave only foot prints in the countryside not your actual boots. if she continues giving you grief say it's because she looked a fool going without you when you wanted to be present, she won't have a leg to stand on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted January 13, 2018 Report Share Posted January 13, 2018 I have a feeling that ALL of these planning officers are Little Hitlers. Had a woman, well, think it was, come to approve the conversion of one of our barns. As always in our house first things first ..a cup of coffee and a slice of cake ....she retorted. "I don't want coffee, it could be construed as a bribe." She stood inside the barn and I asked for a window in the SE wall which has a nice view down the orchard. "You don't have windows for views, they are to let light in", was the reply. Eventually when the builder visited the council offices to have some details changed, the planning officer he saw asked why we only wanted 900 width windows, you need two 1200s at least. Best of luck, but of course you should not raise the subject when she is about and others are present should you. When I planted my wood they twisted my arm to put two ponds in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted January 13, 2018 Report Share Posted January 13, 2018 "Welly" i never she certainly got "stuck" in to your pond ,there was no need for her to "put the boot in " .Mind you as fast as she waded in she had to wade out again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted January 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2018 45 minutes ago, Walker570 said: I have a feeling that ALL of these planning officers are Little Hitlers Hitler was, if nothing else, efficient Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 13, 2018 Report Share Posted January 13, 2018 Only in his earlier years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted January 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2018 I'm afraid to say that the boot got caught in the crossfire during my clay pigeon shooting and may be somewhat compromised... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strimmer_13 Posted January 25, 2018 Report Share Posted January 25, 2018 I'd class that as friendly fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted January 25, 2018 Report Share Posted January 25, 2018 Heh Heh revenge a dish best served cold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countryman Posted January 25, 2018 Report Share Posted January 25, 2018 Having unfortunately dealt with inforcement officers I would strongly advise you do not pee them off, they can and will throw every bit of red tape at you. Best to be civil and accommodating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted January 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2018 I have it in writing that the boot should be disposed of so not going to upset them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted January 25, 2018 Report Share Posted January 25, 2018 bad shooting unless it was a bouncing bunny ? ? ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wb123 Posted January 26, 2018 Report Share Posted January 26, 2018 (edited) Probably best to resist the temptation to dig in for a fight, be as charming as possible, remove and deliver it in person to their offices (cleaned), and try to get on with the ******* or else they can make the whole thing drag on for years. Gearing up for a fight can only make the whole process more time consuming and expensive for everyone involved. Edit: I see it may be a bit late for that now. Edited January 26, 2018 by Wb123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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