26th February 2006, 08:56 PM
From the latest SALON-IFA newsletter
Local anger as listed cottage is destroyed by digger
Tewkesbury Borough Council's Head of Development Control, David Jones, has described the demolition of an uninhabited sixteenth-century listed building in Apperley, near Tewkesbury, Glos, as the ?most blatant act of vandalism against a listed building that the council has ever seen?, adding that ?we will seek authorisation from the planning committee to prosecute those responsible?. The Grade II listed Oak House was repeatedly rammed by a digger on Saturday 18 February, leaving what William Morris, the chairman of the parish council, described as ?a beautiful building? in ruins. A fire damaged the roof of the property in March 2002 but the owner, Ruth Greenshield, issued a statement through her solicitor denying responsibility for the demolition and saying that she had planned to renovate the house and live there.
A farmer, Gerald Kinahan, who is also a parish councillor in a neighbouring parish, admitted to driving the digger. He said a builder, whom he refused to name, had asked him to do it, and he had no idea the building was listed. He said: ?I was instructed to do the work by another builder and I just went ahead with it. I thought it was all above board and just did the job I was told to do.?
The police have been informed and are investigating the demolition with the council.
Makes my blood boil just thinking about it! Thought it would make me feel better to share this news with everyone.
Local anger as listed cottage is destroyed by digger
Tewkesbury Borough Council's Head of Development Control, David Jones, has described the demolition of an uninhabited sixteenth-century listed building in Apperley, near Tewkesbury, Glos, as the ?most blatant act of vandalism against a listed building that the council has ever seen?, adding that ?we will seek authorisation from the planning committee to prosecute those responsible?. The Grade II listed Oak House was repeatedly rammed by a digger on Saturday 18 February, leaving what William Morris, the chairman of the parish council, described as ?a beautiful building? in ruins. A fire damaged the roof of the property in March 2002 but the owner, Ruth Greenshield, issued a statement through her solicitor denying responsibility for the demolition and saying that she had planned to renovate the house and live there.
A farmer, Gerald Kinahan, who is also a parish councillor in a neighbouring parish, admitted to driving the digger. He said a builder, whom he refused to name, had asked him to do it, and he had no idea the building was listed. He said: ?I was instructed to do the work by another builder and I just went ahead with it. I thought it was all above board and just did the job I was told to do.?
The police have been informed and are investigating the demolition with the council.
Makes my blood boil just thinking about it! Thought it would make me feel better to share this news with everyone.