FURIOUS villagers claim their neighbour’s ancient garden barn is “filthy and dangerous” – even he agrees but the council won’t let them tear it down.
Residents in Martham, near Great Yarmouth, are battling with local authority chiefs to get permission to flatten or move the 200-year-old derelict building.
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The barn is on land owned by local farmer who isn’t fussed about seeing it knocked down.
Despite being deemed a serious hazard to motorists as it sits extremely close to the road side on a country bend, execs have argued it could be of “beneficial use”.
A planning inspector also backed their decision to keep the single-storey farmhouse where it is.
Nearby homeowners have since been up in arms – arguing that the building isn’t historic enough to need to be preserved and is beyond repair.
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The ancient monument has been patched up and replaced with old asbestos sheets in recent years.
One angry local said: “There have been scores of near misses and scrapes outside the barn – and it is not unusual to find wing mirrors in the road that have been ripped off in close calls.
“It’s an old building in poor condition – the owner has no use for it and a lot of people can’t see the problem with knocking it down.”
Veteran councillor Paul Hooper said: “The barn as it is represents a serious traffic hazard – it is on a blind bend and the road narrows at that point so much that school buses have to squeeze through.
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“There have been many minor scrapes at that spot – one involving a school bus – and the corner that the barn stands on is a major accident waiting to happen.
“The parish council thinks that the demolition of the barn and the realignment of the road should be a priority.
“And in spite of what the district council say, it is not of any local or architectural value nor a prominent feature in the landscape.
“All you see from the road is a solid brick wall and an asbestos roof.
“There are a couple of windows but they were put in in the 1950’s so its historic value and importance are dubious.
“It has been altered so many times over the years that very little of the original building is left – there are many barns around the village that are more historic and in better condition.
“The village has large farm vehicles and buses moving around and this corner is major accident waiting to happen.
“The realignment of the road outweighs any historical importance the barn may have.”
A surveyor said the council have already refused permission to see it turned into a home, and should demolish it.
They added: “The council has the powers to allow such buildings to be converted into homes but in this case have refused permission and clearly see no future for it as a house.
“But they should have given more weight to the road safety issue – and the potential dangers.
“I understand that the barn has been hit by passing buses in the past.”
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A spokesperson for Great Yarmouth Borough Council said: “The council, as the local planning authority, has long had concerns over the loss of the barn and while we note there are some advocates for its demolition, the council is pleased the Planning Inspectorate has noted its importance to the local area and setting of the village.
“[They] have endorsed our policy that encourages the retention and refurbishment of barns like this for beneficial use.’’
