Couple to tear down log cabin in Waterlooville after local uproar
The ward councillor for the area of Catherington, reiterated that "residents were appalled to see this unsightly structure being erected in one of the most picturesque and valuable viewpoints in East Hampshire".She said it is "vitally important that we protect our precious landscape".
'Means to take action'
The portfolio holder for planning and enforcement Councillor Angela Glass, echoed these thoughts and added: "This is the culmination of many months of complex legal and enforcement work by our determined team of officers to reach this position."I want residents to understand that if people breach planning rules, then we have the means to take action against them."The couple has a 56-day deadline to carry out the work. Failure to comply with this type of legal agreement can lead to enforcement proceedings in the High Court which can lead to costly legal fees and even a custodial sentence.
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Daily Mail
2 days ago
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Couple are ordered to tear down 'unsightly' log cabin illegally built in national park after uproar by 'appalled' locals
A couple have been told to tear down their 'unsightly' log cabin in a national park after locals complained it was a blight on the 'picturesque' landscape. Andrew and Deborah Melbourne built the fully insulated home on their land west of Lovedean Lane in Waterlooville, a viewpoint across the South Downs National Park. However, after an investigation by East Hampshire District Council on behalf of the South Downs National Park Authority, it was found that the cabin breached planning rules. The couple agreed last month that they would knock down the wooden building. It is a move that would leave residents 'thrilled', councillor Sara Schillemore said. 'Residents were appalled to see this unsightly structure being erected in one of the most picturesque and valuable viewpoints in East Hampshire,' the ward councillor for the area of Catherington said. She added that it is 'vitally important that we protect our precious landscape'. Between September 2024 and February 2025 officers served a planning contravention notice, two enforcement notices and a stop notice to the couple. In May, ahead of a scheduled High Court hearing in June, the Melbournes signed a legally binding contract agreeing to remove the building, take away the log cabin and return the landscape to its original condition. Councillor Angela Glass, portfolio holder for planning and enforcement, said: 'We are delighted this legal agreement has been signed and we now expect the development to be cleared over the next couple of months. 'This is the culmination of many months of complex legal and enforcement work by our determined team of officers to reach this position. 'I want residents to understand that if people breach planning rules, then we have the means to take action against them.' Tim Slaney, Director of Planning at the South Downs National Park Authority, said: 'I'm delighted we've reached a resolution to this breach of planning that was harming this wonderful nationally designated landscape. 'I would like to thank East Hampshire District Council which pursued this enforcement case with determination, making it clear we will not tolerate blatant breaches of planning.' The agreement sets out a 56-day deadline to carry out the work. Failure to comply with this type of legal agreement can lead to enforcement proceedings in the High Court which can lead to costly legal fees and even a custodial sentence.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Couple to tear down log cabin in Waterlooville after local uproar
A couple have been forced to tear down a log cabin after local residents were "appalled" by the impact it had on the national park's owners, Andrew and Deborah Melbourne, built the fully insulated structure on their land west of Lovedean Lane in Hampshire District Council investigated the build on behalf of the South Downs National Park Authority and found it had broken planning month, the Melbourne's agreed to remove the building and Councillor Sara Schillemore, said residents would be "thrilled". The ward councillor for the area of Catherington, reiterated that "residents were appalled to see this unsightly structure being erected in one of the most picturesque and valuable viewpoints in East Hampshire".She said it is "vitally important that we protect our precious landscape". 'Means to take action' The portfolio holder for planning and enforcement Councillor Angela Glass, echoed these thoughts and added: "This is the culmination of many months of complex legal and enforcement work by our determined team of officers to reach this position."I want residents to understand that if people breach planning rules, then we have the means to take action against them."The couple has a 56-day deadline to carry out the work. Failure to comply with this type of legal agreement can lead to enforcement proceedings in the High Court which can lead to costly legal fees and even a custodial sentence. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
14-06-2025
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How a war erupted over a church mural in Berwick
Berwick is a quaint village tucked behind the South Downs in East Sussex - but it hasn't always been as peaceful as it seems the Second World War, while the British were meant to be pulling together to beat Hitler, a much smaller war was being 3 November 1940, the Bishop of Chichester, who had set up a scheme to decorate churches around the diocese, visited Berwick's St Michael and All Angels' Church and decided its white interior walls needed a new lease of one villager feared any artwork would attract tourists and "disturb our peace", sparking an almighty battle from the era that many are unaware ever took place. Today, the murals lining the walls of St Michael's - by renowned Bloomsbury artists Duncan Grant, Vanessa Bell and her son Quentin Bell - are seen as a masterpiece. But when the bishop first announced his plans for them, village resident Nancy Sandiland was furious."The whole thing will fall down in a year or two, no one will be able to fix it properly and damp will do the rest. "I strongly oppose the idea," she it was time for the Parochial Church Council to decide whether the plans could go ahead, and on 5 May, 1941, members cast their approved the pictures. One abstained. One did not approve - had lived in the village since marrying Walter Alexander Sandilands in 1918, but with the marriage ending in divorce, she now lived with a friend. With potential work on the mural now drawing closer, Nancy launched a formal opposition with an "act of petition", meaning her appeal would go to a special Consistory Church were getting serious in Berwick with lawyers being employed and the Lord Chancellor preparing to judge the bishop offered to visit Nancy to talk in more detail about the artist's plans, but Nancy declined saying there was "no point" as she would not change her she intensified her campaign and wrote to the bishop to clarify her position."Berwick Church is an ancient building of great beauty. Modern decoration would ruin its cohesion and integrity," she said that while the country was at war, this was not the time to be "spending money and labour on unnecessary work."Nancy had previously promised she would not canvass the villagers to gain support for opposing to the plans, so a close friend took on the challenge on her behalf. The court hearing had arrived and Sir Kenneth Clarke, director of the National Gallery and head of the War Artists Advisory Committee, had come to give his was given all day and soon, Kenneth Macmorran, Queen's Counsel and Diocesan Chancellor, gave his murals were was furious. In fact, after the war, she left the village entirely and moved to Nancy had won her fight, the impressive murals may never have existed at pictures include the vicar, George Mitchell, along with the Bishop of Chichester and a host of others from the no Nancy, though perhaps we should not be surprised about that.
