Latest news with #localfamilies
The Sun
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Airbnb owner forced to tear down 40ft-high ‘monstrous prison camp watchtower' after furious neighbours complained
AN Airbnb owner has been ordered to tear down a massive 40ft-high "prison-camp watchtower" after furious neighbours complained. The "monstrous" structure was built at the £5,000-a-week holiday let in Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales, without planning permission. 2 2 And fuming locals nearby say the eyesore addition is disturbing their day-to-day lives in a seaside town. Planning permission for the towering "garden room" was turned down last year. And neighbours are celebrating after another bid has now also been rejected by officials who say the tower must be removed. Nearby neighbour Nick Whitmore, 35, who lives with his partner and three young children said their "dream home" had been marred by the platform and cabin. Nick said: "It's advertised on Airbnb year-round, bringing noise, light pollution, and worse. "The impact on my partner, our three children, and our neighbours is horrendous. "The structure dominates our house and garden, as well as our neighbours'. It looks into my daughter's bedroom. He added: "We are a local, hard-working family with three children under the age of 10. "My partner and I worked very, very hard to buy our dream home, just up the road from the children's school, various public parks, with a bedroom for each of our children, and a nice garden for them to enjoy. "This has now been taken away from us as we back onto a busy Airbnb and, since Jan 2024, a building site." The holiday let was purchased by a Sheffield-based property owner in December 2023. Neighbours reported the structure to the council and JAM Domestic Properties Ltd submitted a planning application - which was refused. The owners had described the 'breathtaking' £700,000 four-bedroom property as 'the epitome of luxury '. Nick said: "We alerted Conwy council who asked the company to stop work. "They did, and submitted a retrospective planning application, which was refused in June 2024 after numerous neighbour objections. "With no appeal by the 16 December 2024 deadline, we thought the council would follow through and move to enforce their own refusal. "We assumed relief was near. Instead, two weeks ago, earlier in March 2025, the owner submitted a near-identical planning application. "We've now endured over 15 months of this situation, with Conwy sitting on their hands while local families and residents suffer daily." Families living next-door are furious at the13m high 'concrete plateau' giving clear views into their properties and blighting their lives. Work on the tower - which would provide panoramic views of the village and neighbouring Penrhyn Bay - began last year, only to be paused when a planning application was turned down. The holiday rental - called Gardd y Llys - is a contemporary property in one of the most upmarket residential areas of Rhos-on-Sea. 'OVERBEARING' Neighbours Stephen and Hazel Walburn also wrote a letter of objection to the council. "The cabin is 13m above our main living area and certainly feels to us to be out of character and overbearing," they wrote. "Its scale and appearance are unlike other garden buildings in the area. It fails to enhance the local environment, commanding attention not unlike a prison camp watchtower." They added: "It dominates the roofscape and is alien and incongruous." Conwy council said: "An enforcement notice has been served which requires the removal of the structure." The notice was served on 17 June and the developer has been given 10 weeks from that date to launch an appeal. The application by JAM Domestic Properties read: "Views from the raised platform into neighbouring properties were recognised as being available from the initial planning consent. "The proposed development is not considered to lead to an acceptable increase to this and is not considered to have a detrimental impact on privacy or residential amenity to neighbouring properties, and therefore would be acceptable on this basis." A Conwy Council spokeswoman previously said: "Planning permission was granted in 2016 for a smaller garden structure on this site. "In February 2024, it was brought to our attention that a larger outbuilding was being constructed. "Following an investigation by the planning enforcement officer, the owners agreed to cease work and to submit a planning application to regularise the work.
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Airbnb owner is ordered to tear down 40ft 'prison camp watchtower' from his garden after neighbour complained
An Airbnb owner has been ordered to tear down a 'monstrous' 40ft structure likened to a 'prison-camp watchtower' after furious protests from neighbours. The 'overbearing' structure - intended to provide panoramic views of the village - was built at the £5,000-a-week holiday let without planning permission, leading to nearby residents feeling infuriated. Planning permission for the towering 'garden room' was turned down last year and now another bid has been rejected, with officials saying the tower at Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales, must be removed. Nick Whitmore, 35, who lives with his partner and three young children, said their 'dream home' had been marred by the platform and cabin. Nick said: 'It's advertised on Airbnb year-round, bringing noise, light pollution, and worse. The impact on my partner, our three children, and our neighbours is horrendous. 'The structure dominates our house and garden, as well as that of our neighbours. It looks into my daughter's bedroom. He added: 'We are a local, hard-working family with three children under the age of 10. My partner and I worked very, very hard to buy our dream home, just up the road from the children's school, various public parks, with a bedroom for each of our children, and a nice garden for them to enjoy. 'This has now been taken away from us as we back onto a busy Airbnb and, since Jan 2024, a building site.' Residents were left feeling infuriated by the 'overbearing' tower built at the rental property The holiday let was purchased by a Sheffield-based property owner in December 2023. Neighbours reported the structure to the council and JAM Domestic Properties Ltd submitted a planning application - which was refused. The owners had described the 'breathtaking' £700,000 four-bedroom property as 'the epitome of luxury'. Nick said: 'We alerted Conwy council who asked the company to stop work. 'They did, and submitted a retrospective planning application, which was refused in June 2024 after numerous neighbour objections. 'With no appeal by the 16 December 2024 deadline, we thought the council would follow through and move to enforce their own refusal. 'We assumed relief was near. Instead, two weeks ago, earlier in March 2025, the owner submitted a near-identical planning application. 'We've now endured over 15 months of this situation, with Conwy sitting on their hands while local families and residents suffer daily.' Families living next-door are furious at the 13m-high 'concrete plateau' giving clear views into their properties and blighting their lives. Work on the tower - which would provide panoramic views of the village and neighbouring Penrhyn Bay - began last year, only to be paused when a planning application was turned down. The holiday rental - called Gardd y Llys - is a contemporary property in one of the most upmarket residential areas of Rhos-on-Sea. Neighbours Stephen and Hazel Walburn also wrote a letter of objection to the council. 'The cabin is 13m above our main living area and certainly feels to us to be out of character and overbearing,' they wrote. 'Its scale and appearance are unlike other garden buildings in the area. It fails to enhance the local environment, commanding attention not unlike a prison camp watchtower.' They added: 'It dominates the roofscape and is alien and incongruous.' Conwy council said: 'An enforcement notice has been served which requires the removal of the structure.' The notice was served on 17 June and the developer has been given 10 weeks from that date to launch an appeal. The application by JAM Domestic Properties read: 'Views from the raised platform into neighbouring properties were recognised as being available from the initial planning consent. 'The proposed development is not considered to lead to an acceptable increase to this and is not considered to have a detrimental impact on privacy or residential amenity to neighbouring properties, and therefore would be acceptable on this basis.' A Conwy Council spokeswoman previously said: 'Planning permission was granted in 2016 for a smaller garden structure on this site. 'In February 2024, it was brought to our attention that a larger outbuilding was being constructed.
The Sun
24-06-2025
- The Sun
Families hit with £250 fines for kids' toy mistake as furious parents insist ‘we thought we were being nice'
JOBSWORTH council bosses are hitting families with £250 fines for leaving kids' toys with 'please take' signs outside their own homes. Enforcement officials in Merton, South London, were slammed after threatening to call the police in front of a four-year-old boy for 'littering' when his mum tried to donate a Hot Wheels set to her local community. 3 3 MPs and campaigners last night pushed back against the council's 'needless overreach." One case saw the mum of a four-year-old confronted by a uniformed enforcement officer after attempting to give away a £150 toy car set. She told The Sun: 'So many families are struggling at the moment, I thought it was a nice thing to do. 'I said I wouldn't accept the fine because it was ridiculous, and the man got aggressive and said he would call the police if I didn't pay. 'My tiny son was next to me and asked, 'Mummy, why are the police here?' 'When they got pushy, he started crying.' Local mum Kate Wood was also targeted by enforcement officers for putting a paddling pool outside her front garden in nearby Colliers Wood with a 'please take' sign on. She wrote on a local social media forum: 'I was trying to do a good thing and avoid taking this to the dump, and it's very obviously outside my house and not fly tipping. I'm speechless.' A whistleblower who briefly worked as a Merton environment officer described how officers are encouraged to use 'aggressive and sneaky tactics' to maximise the fines. He claimed he was explicitly told to hide around corners and target 'vulnerable' young women to hit their quotas. A Merton Council spokesperson insisted leaving items on the pavement 'even with the best intentions' could still be classed as fly tipping. A spokesperson for the council said: 'We understand that residents may want to share items they no longer need with their neighbours, and we support reuse and donation when it is done responsibly. 'We've spoken to the individuals involved in the incidents raised and have addressed their concerns which have now been resolved. 'We'll also ensure responses in cases like this are proportionate to the offence. 3 "We are listening to residents and take all feedback seriously. 'Our enforcement officers work to keep streets clean and safe for everyone. "They are expected to follow strict protocols and act professionally at all times.' The council encouraged residents to donate unwanted items to charities like the British Heart Foundation or the Salvation Army. A spokesperson for the council said locals should consider selling or giving items away on Facebook Marketplace or Freecycle. What are the rules? IT is an offence to "treat, keep or dispose of controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health." This means that you could be fined or even jailed if rubbish is fly-tipped on your property. Your council is not responsible for clearing up the fly-tipped waste - even if it was someone else who dumped it on your property. This means you may have to spend your own money and time finding someone with the right credentials to pick up the waste. The rules may seem strange, but experts say it deters people from dumping waste on their own land and refusing to pay for clear-up. If you need to get rid of stuff you don't want you can sell or give items away through platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Freecycle. You can also donate items to charities such as the Salvation Army or British Heart Foundation, which offer free collection for large items Alternatively you can take large items to a recycling centre, or book a bulky waste collection through the Council. If you are unfairly fined for fly tipping you can challenge the fine by demonstrating that the offense wasn't your fault or that the fixed penalty notice was wrongly issued. You'll need to gather as much evidence as possible and follow the council's appeal process.
Times of Oman
18-06-2025
- Times of Oman
From cliffs to coastline: A getaway to remember
Muscat: IN the relentless summer heat of Oman, where the sun hangs heavy and the landscape bakes in shades of ochre, discovering comfort — let alone joy — can feel like wishful thinking. And yet, tucked between Muscat's rugged cliffs and the calm, shimmering waters of the Gulf of Oman, there lies a place that delivers exactly that: Al Waha Hotel, the family-friendly heart of Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa. Having heard glowing tales from local families who make it their go-to weekend retreat, I finally found myself there on a particularly sweltering June weekend. What I discovered was not just a hotel stay — it was a cool, immersive experience that softened the summer and wrapped me in a kind of barefoot luxury I hadn't realised I needed. The arrival: Where the mountains meet the sea The drive into the resort is dramatic in itself — winding along the rugged coastline and the stark desert cliffs. One of the most striking moments comes just before you reach Al Waha: an architectural marvel in the form of a tunnel carved directly through the mountain. This one-of-its-kind passageway, seamlessly blending natural rock with modern engineering, frames your entrance like a hidden gateway to an oasis. Emerging from the tunnel, the resort reveals itself in full splendor — its warm sand-coloured buildings. Stepping into the lobby, I was greeted with that faint, comforting scent of frankincense in the air — a subtle but unmistakable reminder that this was still Oman, even as the resort transported you elsewhere. I was booked for an all-inclusive stay that is the latest offering from Al Waha (OMR110++ per room per night). The gold package had my breakfast, lunch & dinner taken care of – along with unlimited house beverages. The hotel manager informed me that the package could be upgraded to premium (OMR 20 net per person) or jubilee package – in celebration of the hotel's 20th year anniversary at OMR 30 net per person. A family paradise in motion Al Waha has an unmistakable energy. It is, unabashedly, a family hotel — and proud of it. Everywhere you look, children are at play, whether darting between poolside loungers or lazily floating in colourful tubes down the Lazy River, the gentle stream that links Al Waha to its sister property, Al Bandar. The three swimming pools are perpetually lively — one dedicated to toddlers, another perfect for family games, and a quieter one for more peaceful lounging. Yet, even amid the splashes and squeals of delighted kids, there's a sense of order, care, and calm. Lifeguards are ever-present and cheerful. And parents — blissfully relieved of planning and policing — lounge with books, iced drinks, and wide smiles. One afternoon, floating down the Lazy River with the sun dappling through palms overhead, I struck up a chat with a local couple who've made Al Waha their family's second home. 'We've been coming here since our eldest was in diapers,' the mother told me. 'Now he's diving into the deep end on his own. It's more than a hotel — it's where our memories are.' That sentiment echoed throughout my stay. This wasn't just a resort. It was a summer rhythm — full of laughter, ease, and the kind of light-hearted living we often forget in the rush of everyday life. Food for every craving A place like this knows how to feed its guests — not just with variety, but with soul. At Samba, the resort's all-day dining restaurant, breakfast quickly became a ritual. I would wander slowly past stations offering everything from fluffy pancakes to spiced Middle Eastern stews to Indian Dosas. Chef Ravinder Singh and Moorthy went the extra way to accommodate my dietary requests in close coordination with restaurant manager Dev Khatwani. One morning, I paused at the live egg station and watched as the chef gently cracked eggs and mixed vegetables for my masala omelette. The croissants were golden, buttery, and — crucially — never stale. I'd promise myself I wouldn't touch the sweets, then surrender at the sight of date-filled pastries, paired perfectly with strong Arabic coffee and Umm Ali during my dinner. For something breezier, Surf Café became my midday haunt. With sand still clinging to my feet, I'd sink into a beach-facing chair and order a mango smoothie or a club sandwich. Families streamed in post-swim, teens debated milkshake flavours, and the whole place had the relaxed vibe of a surfer shack with five-star service. At Assira, the poolside restaurant, just as the day turned golden, I enjoyed a lime-and-mint cooler in hand and enjoyed the view of the sea sitting beneath a canopy of stars, while the last echoes of the day's energy faded into the evening breeze. Small luxuries, lasting impressions What sets Al Waha apart isn't just its location or amenities — it's the unspoken ease of the experience. There's thoughtfulness in every detail: towels always available, shaded walkways to protect from the sun, smiling staff who remembered my name — and even how I liked my coffee by the second morning. Checking out of Al Waha was, surprisingly, the hardest part of the trip. I hadn't expected to feel such a deep sense of rejuvenation — not just physically, but emotionally. In two days, the chaos of deadlines, heat, and city life had melted away, replaced by the sound of kids' laughter, the feel of cool water, and the lingering taste of mint and citrus on my tongue. Al Waha doesn't try to be everything. It simply knows what it is — a sanctuary for families, a haven for summer, and a place where joy feels easy again. In a country known for its landscapes and warmth, this resort offers something rarer: a sense of belonging, wrapped in comfort and sunshine.
CNA
30-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNA
Turkish Delight: 6 fantastic food stops in Istanbul
Türkiye's largest city, once known as Constantinople and famous for straddling both Europe and Asia, also marks a culinary crossroads. The remarkable diversity of influences and people who have called it home ensure that it is one of the world's most thrilling places to dine out. Such a metropolis – more than 15 million people call it home – offers an extraordinary array of eating options, from roadside stalls to elegant dining rooms, local smoky grills to cutting-edge neo-Turkish bistros. Here are six spots for guaranteed deliciousness, authentic hospitality and windows on Turkey's remarkable, multi-layered culinary culture. KARAKOY CAFE Taking up the ground floor of a modest Novotel hotel, Karakoy Cafe is an unassuming spot but a surefire winner for those seeking real-deal Turkish cuisine. Bookings are essential as it fills up quickly with local families and larger groups enjoying impeccable plates, while the interiors and design are elevated and elegant, the service warm and the prices distinctly fair. The eyes are immediately drawn to a long, refrigerated counter, not unlike those in tapas bars, filled with a tempting array of mezze which are also listed on a long menu. Muhammara has long been a personal favourite, a sweet and spicy paste of peppers, walnuts and herbs, but the version at Karakoy is also cut through with fresh parsley for added freshness. A roasted aubergine salad, patlican salatasi, is another notch above the normal thanks to the smoky char on the vegetables, slowly blistered on the restaurant's vast grill. Oven-baked sheep's cheese with spices marked the final mezze, a simple but excellent addition, especially with their addictive breads hot from the oven. An extensive wine and raki list accompany the food, along with plenty of no-alcohol choices. GALLADA AT THE PENINSULA ISTANBUL Fatih Tutak is arguably Türkiye's most famous celebrity chef, a regular sight on TV and someone who proudly flies the flag for his country's cuisine. He boasts a distinguished resume which includes Türkiye's only two Michelin-starred restaurant, Turk Fatih Tutak, as well as the highly acclaimed Gallada at The Peninsula Istanbul. The hotel is an absolute beauty, sweeping along The Bosporus riverfront, featuring three separate buildings, including an Art Deco pearl which was once a ticket office for a ferry company. Another is crowned by Gallada with its vast terrace, incredible views over Hagia Sofia mosque and generous tables decked in pristine white linen. Every seat is taken, and the room buzzes with energy and a United Nations of accents. As the plates begin to arrive, it's clear why. Perfect batons of pickles are joined by Sichuan peanuts and a Turkish pinot noir, before the first course of lamb's liver with Kesan pepper and crispy potato, to be wrapped in gossamer-thin bread. Surely Istanbul's most elegant lamb shashlik kebab comes next, with vinegary onion, cumin and paprika, then Black Sea turbot with superior soy and morel mushrooms reflecting chef Fatih's years spent in Asia, in cities including Hong Kong and Bangkok. Frozen chocolate mousse with Madagascar vanilla rounds out a spectacular a la carte dinner. SERICA It's probably unsurprising that Istanbul's Bank Hotel was once a bank, one where sublime original interiors and architecture have been highlighted and restored with true style. One of its restaurants sits up on the sixth floor, with romantic views over the mosques of Sultanahmet and beyond. Serica's cuisine is neo-Turkish, namely rooted in tradition but unafraid to experiment and innovate. It also reflects regions including Anatolia, the Black Sea coast and Cappadocia. Dinner started with bread from a tandoor style oven, served volcanically hot with basil and herb butter. A crunchy rectangle of bread was then topped with anchovies, bottarga and aioli, a trio of powerful ingredients which nonetheless complimented one another well. The tandoor came to the fore again with fall-apart tender lamb shoulder, slow cooked and served with stuffed onion and apricot puree. More excellent Turkish wines paired perfectly. ADANA OCKABASI Open-fire grills called mangal proudly define Turkish cuisine more than any other. Always smoke-filled, invariably involving a wait to get a table, their friendly, communal atmosphere celebrates kebabs beautifully kissed by charcoal-fuelled fire in a tradition known as Ockabsi. There are thousands of them across Istanbul, but one of the best we encountered was Adana Ockabsi in the Osmanbey neighbourhood. Taking inspiration from the culinary traditions of Adana on Türkiye's Mediterranean coast, go with as many people as possible to enjoy as wide a spread of dishes as your table can hold. Wood-fired breads are dangerously addictive, especially swept through rich and creamy meze dips. Fragrant hand-chopped kebabs are moulded around huge sword-like skewers, while some offer kokorec, made from lamb or goat intestines wrapped around seasoned offal such as sweetbreads, hearts or lungs. To drink, the aniseed flavours of the strong national liquor raki are an acquired taste but an important communal toasting tradition. Just be warned that after a few shots you may find yourself wanting to hit another bar to carry on well into the night. KUMPIR Kumpir – a unique Turkish take on baked potatoes – is seen all over Istanbul, but the riverside district of Ortakoy is particularly famed for them, with lanes dotted with dozens of vendors trying to outdo one another with eye-catching displays of dozens of toppings. There's no science or culinary wizardry at work, just huge fluffy spuds, cleaved open and spread with liberal amounts of butter. The only challenge comes in choosing what to fill them with. Red cabbage, chopped olives, sweetcorn, pickled vegetables, chopped eggs, sausage, pepper, tuna, cheeses like kasar or mozzarella – the only limit is your imagination and appetite. The best bit? They're more than enough for a meal, perfect eaten al fresco in the gardens around Ortakoy Bridge – and run no more than US$3 (S$3.85) to US$4. At weekends, you can expect large crowds as the treat is understandably popular with families wandering the pedestrianised streets. Just look for a street known as Kumpir Sokak by the Ortakoy mosque and get stuck in. MARKETS Incredible produce is piled high on low tables across Istanbul's hundreds of neighbourhood food markets. The freshest fish and seafood, incredible fruit and vegetables and fascinating local characters make for a great culinary cocktail. Have a look online to see what's on and don't be afraid to jump on a ferry to head out into the depths of the city, away from the tourist traps. I found artichoke hearts floating in red buckets of water, ruby-red beetroot, massive mountains of aubergines, carefully arranged pyramids of tomatoes and beautifully fragrant herbs as just some of the tempting ingredients. Dried fruit and nuts are another specialty, with tables covered in walnuts that are carefully picked through by discerning local grandmothers. Simply follow your nose for something delicious to chew on as you wander. Simit are the ubiquitous sesame-flecked rings of bread, sold from portable carts. Stalls sell all manner of homemade borek, the addictive layered pastry with salty white cheese, while whorls of pastry are stuffed with nettles, spinach, herbs and more cheese to be washed down with a glass of strong and sweet Turkish tea.
