You can own property but you dont own it at the same time. The city came one day and tore all our trees out of the front lawn to check on some pipe. Then left the lawn all torn and barren of trees. And they dont care they just ripped up all the money you put into getting trees and a lawn.

Privacy and freedom is going down the drain fast.

Admittedly, the builder was wrong to dodge the system. That should be addressed. But I think the council should refrain from over-reacting by tearing it down; it’s too extreme a response, and probably has no real purpose than to simply prove a point or enforce the law. Something less theatrical would suffice. A fine, perhaps? I’m certain any local government could use a financial injection.

The law is the law, of course, and it is there for a reason. But we should apply common sense with it, especially in such a relatively unimportant matter.

Call it what it is, hurt feelings. It really sounds like the planning commission got it’s ego bruised. Oh, for shame! So what if the guy is possible a pain in the you-know-what. Is the government’s need to repair it’s ego and prove it’s muscle more important than and existing home of a working family? I guess in England it is.

Good thing this planning commission aren’t in Spain… just imagine what they’d do. They could probably show the Spainards a thing or two about harassing it’s own citizens.

This has now escalated to the point where, “If a Government-appointed inspector upholds the notices, within six months he will have to tear down a farmhouse, conservatory, marquee and timber bridge and remove a hardstanding parking area, patio, timber decking and a Tarmac race track.”

It’s one thing to make a genuine mistake over the law, but that’s just taking the piss.