Landlord’s Battle with Council Over Fence Height Turns Into Legal Standoff
In an unexpected twist, Joe Haggarty, a determined landlord, finds himself in a heated dispute with Coventry City Council over a seemingly trivial issue – the height of his fence. The bone of contention? A mere 20 centimeters.
Haggarty claims that planning officials have threatened legal action unless he obtains planning permission for his 1.2-meter tall fence. To make matters worse, the council has also taken issue with banners displayed at The New Albany in Earlsdon, Coventry.
“The fence has been in place for approximately four years, but only now is there an objection,” exclaimed the frustrated 47-year-old. He expressed concern that if a car were to collide with the fence, it would easily crash through.
Interestingly, Joe Haggarty argues that the fence serves dual purposes – it dampens the noise from his establishment and provides a modicum of privacy. Replacing it could incur a hefty cost of £3,500, and the council is also threatening planning action regarding the banners, according to CoventryLive.
This dispute, ignited by an anonymous complaint, has proven to be the most challenging episode in Joe’s 31-year career, surpassing even the hurdles posed by the pandemic and rising living costs.
The situation is made all the more frustrating as Haggarty has invested approximately £900,000 over five years to revamp the Albany Road site, transforming it from a derelict Marston’s Brewery plot. Known for his community involvement, which includes organizing litter cleanups and running a gym for individuals with mental health concerns, Joe feels betrayed by the ongoing saga.
“The council should be supporting us – it’s absurd,” he added.
A spokesperson from the council responded by stating, “In response to a public inquiry received in May, officers conducted an inspection of this locally listed building and identified several apparent breaches of planning and advertisement consent. Officers are currently in discussion with the landlord and his representatives over these matters.”