I’ve been forced to tear down my brightly coloured garden huts after my neighbours moaned – now I’ve wasted £16,000

A PUB landlord is being forced to tear down his bright-coloured garden huts after his neighbours moaned.

Colin Curran says he poured £16,000 into the additions to his business so customers could be spaced out in the wake of Covid-19 lockdowns.

3

3

And while they’re an absolute hit with customers, those who live near County Durham‘s the Farmer Arms aren’t happy.

The locals’ complaints and opposition could see Colin forced to rip down the colourful huts, as his retrospective planning permission has been thrown out by the council.

But, he argued: “They’re a big asset to us. Some older and vulnerable customers only feel safe coming out and using the sheds.”

The publican says he also poured thousands into revamping his beer garden with the colourful huts at a time when social distancing rules were in full force.

He used part of the pub‘s car park to make room for the five beach huts and decking area.

And Colin’s upgrade was welcomed by customers who swarmed to the pub.

But it was the popularity that became an issue, with neighbours complaining to the council that the pub’s garden visitors would get too loud.

The extras were finished in April 2020 and created while there were relaxed rules around building so that work could continue during the pandemic.

But when Colin went to apply for retrospective planning permission, it was rejected and he was told to tear the huts down.

He’s called the decision a “slap in the face”.

Colin added: “The council was encouraging small businesses to make outdoor spaces available but now they’re taking it away.

“They’re a nuisance to no one.”

But neighbours wrote to Durham County Council and called the noise “intolerable”.

One resident said they had to “shut windows because of loud live music and loud intoxicated customers shouting and swearing till very late at night”.

The inspector’s report added: “There is evidence that the use of the beer garden does disturb the nearby residential occupiers in their homes and gardens, particularly the rears of the closest Oliver Crescent properties.

“The noise levels rise when customers are inebriated and when music is played in the beer garden.

“There are times when the neighbours are unable to enjoy their gardens and they need to close their windows to mitigate the noise.”

The council was encouraging small businesses to make outdoor spaces available but now they’re taking it away.

Colin CurranPub Landlord

Although it noted that the pub’s expansion had received some local support, the Planning Inspectorate concluded that the proposal would harm the living conditions of nearby residents.

The council said it would now with the business to ensure compliance with the decision.

Stephen Reed, planning development manager, said: “The government planning inspector makes it clear that the main issue for consideration was the effect of the proposal on nearby residents.

“It concluded that the proposal would harm their living conditions, with particular regard to noise and disturbance, and would therefore be in conflict with both local and national planning policies.”

It’s not unusual for people and businesses to run into issues with planning permission.

In Kent homeowners complained about a neighbour’s “alien” cabin they say was put up without permission and has turned their area into a “shopping mall”.

The row comes after locals living near a Norfolk beauty spot accused a neighbour of building an illegal holiday home.

Elsewhere in Kent, a hotelier became so worried about a next-door pub being demolished for newbuild homes, he has bought it himself.

Others, like Redrow, told to tear down developments include a family in Bolton, Greater Manchester, who had built an extension.

And locals in Newport in Wales criticised “jobsworth” officials wanting them to remove privacy fences.

3

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk