logo
'Berlin Wall 2' must be demolished after being built in middle of housing estate

'Berlin Wall 2' must be demolished after being built in middle of housing estate

Daily Mirror30-04-2025

An eyesore concrete wall, labelled ' The Berlin Wall ' by disgruntled locals, has landed the landowner in hot water after it blocked a popular walking path used by parents on the school run.
West Devon Borough Council has clamped down with an Enforcement Notice demanding the removal of the intrusive 'Berlin Wall' that's sprung up between two housing estates on Kellands Lane in Okehampton, Devon. It blocked the path parents use to drop and collect their children at St James Primary School in the town.
The council slapped a 'Temporary Stop Notice' on April 17 to halt further construction and followed through with an Enforcement Notice on April 25, which will come into force on May 27.
Enforcement notices are issued when someone carries out work without the required planning permission. They explain the violation, state how to fix it and give a deadline for the job.
An enforcement notice is used when development is carried out without the necessary planning permission, reports Devon Live.
The notice tells the person receiving it what they have done wrong, what must be done to put it right and the timescale within which that must be done. There is a right of appeal against enforcement notices.
Councillor Caroline Mott, lead member for planning and the built environment at West Devon Borough Council, said: "The Council has taken action to have the structure removed and hope the inconvenience to the community will be resolved as a matter of urgency."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Human remains discovered on popular beach
Human remains discovered on popular beach

Wales Online

time22-05-2025

  • Wales Online

Human remains discovered on popular beach

Human remains discovered on popular beach Police confirmed the remains were taken to a mortuary for further examination Westward Ho! beach (Image: Google ) Human remains have been discovered on a beach in Devon. The tragic discovery was made at Westward Ho! Beach at around 9.30am today [Thursday May 22]. A witness described seeing what they believed to be a leg that had been washed ashore. As news of the finding spread, images briefly circulated on social media before being removed. One individual commented on the distressing nature of the scene, describing it as "very graphic". The same witness reported seeing police cars and a private ambulance at the beach, reports Devon Live. Police have since taken the remains from the site for further investigation at a mortuary. Article continues below A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "We were notified at around 9.30am on Thursday 22 May following reports of what appeared to be human remains found at the end of Westward Ho! Beach, Bideford. "Officers attended and have removed the remains to the mortuary for further examination." Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.

Town at war over 'Berlin Wall MK2' built to block access to a walking route after Google Maps blunder... as furious local knocks it down with a JCB
Town at war over 'Berlin Wall MK2' built to block access to a walking route after Google Maps blunder... as furious local knocks it down with a JCB

Daily Mail​

time06-05-2025

  • Daily Mail​

Town at war over 'Berlin Wall MK2' built to block access to a walking route after Google Maps blunder... as furious local knocks it down with a JCB

A mysterious local has took matters into their own hands to tear down a town's controversial wall, dubbed 'The Berlin Wall Mk 2', with a rented JCB. The concrete blocks on Kellands Lane in Okehampton, Devon, had been put up to block a popular walking route which families used to get to school. It was built between two housing estates which developers said was private land, warning those who passed through were 'trespassing'. A local erected the wall after Google Maps blunder had begun directing pedestrians to pass through the road as a walking route. The wall became unpopular with locals and graffiti had appeared on it, calling it 'The Berlin Wall Mk 2'. Officials at West Devon Borough Council issued a 'Temporary Stop Notice' on April 17 to prevent further works from happening. An Enforcement Notice was then made on April 25 officials were set to tear the wall down if it was not removed by May 27. However the wall was destroyed prematurely, when an unknown local rented a JCB to breach the structure. Locals rejoiced at its removal, with the path now open again for pedestrians to pass through. Dana Green, 40, said: 'Nobody knew why it was put up. I moved here seven years ago and there was a hedge which died. 'Then they put up this huge wall and the kids have been crawling underneath the gaps. It's really dangerous.' Roy Hopkinson lives right next to the hated wall. 'It's been mental', he concedes, 'I don't know why they've put it there. 'It does look like the Berlin Wall, It made the neighbourhood a lot quieter, people were joking that there would soon be watchtowers installed. 'Everyone was grateful to the person that knocked it down.' One local posted on Facebook when the wall went up: ''I thought Trump was only building walls in America!' 'My husband can't get through it as he uses a mobility scooter' said Verity Warren, 'I can't believe they just whacked it up. It used to be a load of dirt but then they made a new path when the school was opened. Residents rejoiced, saying they were 'grateful to the person that knocked it down' 'Nothing happens for ages and then there's a bloody great wall built. 'Why didn't they just put some bollards down!' Keith Monnax told MailOnline he had originally made the path through the mud. He said: 'I saw them putting the wall up and thought it was a bit harsh. But then they came and knocked it down anyway. 'What happens now? It's petty and all about land, but nobody knows where it will go from here.' Councillor Caroline Mott, Lead Member for Planning and the Built Environment at West Devon Borough Council, told Devon Live: 'The Council has taken action to have the structure removed and hope the inconvenience to the community will be resolved as a matter of urgency.' Councillor George Dexter said the problem is the land is located on a 'ransom strip' from a nearby stretch of privately owned land. Therefore any use of the road as a thoroughfare is technically trespassing. He explained: 'There used to be a hedge here, but families would just walk around it and in the intervening years the estates have sprung up around it. 'A few weeks ago this wall suddenly appeared and everyone was confused. It cuts off everybody here. 'Last week a resident took things into his own hands and soon after the council issued an enforcement notice.' A spokesman for Leander Developments said: 'The land in question is under private ownership, and there is no public right of way across this land - this isn't a question of inconvenience to the public, as anyone who crosses this land is committing trespass. 'To date, we have received a stop notice, but not an enforcement notice. 'The recently erected temporary structure, on our land, was done for public safety and insurance purposes as Google Maps has started to show a right of way across this private land. 'Our insurance requires us to take reasonable steps to prevent trespass, and Google now showing this as a right of way could invalidate our insurance, unless we can demonstrate that we have taken positive steps to prevent illegal entry onto our land. 'On Thursday 17th April, a member of the public, with a digger, caused criminal damage by driving through this temporary structure. This has been filed with the police who have raised a crime number. 'We would recommend members of the public stay away from this structure as we cannot guarantee its integrity following this attack, and the stop notice served by the Council prevents us from undertaking any remedial work. 'To safeguard our insurance, we considered it our right under permitted developments to erect a temporary structure, and it is disappointing that Council is taking measures which allow trespassing to continue, despite making them aware that this was for insurance purposes. 'On 6th January 2023 (nearly two and a half years ago) we had a meeting, on site, with two Directors of the Council, the local member, and the then Leader of the Council to discuss a long-term solution to complete the Kellands Lane connection. 'After the meeting, no further action was taken by West Devon Borough Council. We remain willing to work towards a long-term solution to complete the road connection, but West Devon Borough Council do need to engage with us to enable this to happen.'

Popular UK seaside resort once dubbed ‘a hellhole' to undergo £70million upgrade with new restaurants and 154-room hotel
Popular UK seaside resort once dubbed ‘a hellhole' to undergo £70million upgrade with new restaurants and 154-room hotel

Scottish Sun

time05-05-2025

  • Scottish Sun

Popular UK seaside resort once dubbed ‘a hellhole' to undergo £70million upgrade with new restaurants and 154-room hotel

Locals said they don't feel safe walking with drug paraphernalia on the ground SANDS GOOD Popular UK seaside resort once dubbed 'a hellhole' to undergo £70million upgrade with new restaurants and 154-room hotel Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITAIN'S "very bad" seaside spot is getting a whopping £70million revamp to become a posh new destination. The iconic harborside is set to become home to a swanky hotel to counter locals who have been left bitterly disappointed with their beloved landscape. 5 Torquay harbourside will be getting a £70million revamp Credit: Torbay Council 5 The popular seaside spot is now set to go be the site of a sparkling new hotel Credit: Torbay Council 5 Locals are fuming at the fly-tipping and drug paraphernalia on the floor Credit: Devon Live/BPM Residents Torquay harbourside, Devon, were gutted that their beautiful town was being trashed, with litter and drugs paraphernalia left around. Fuming homeowners, dog walkers and families are scared to walk down some streets, meanwhile, visitors are leaving the once bustling hotspot disappointed. One scathing local said the situation was "very bad" and claimed the council aren't stepping up to resolve it, as reported by DevonLive. "We have contacted the council, the police and Swisco (street cleaning and maintenance company), but haven't heard back from any of them," they said. Pointing at a pile of litter, they added: "It annoys me when you read all these pieces about Torquay being such a lovely place, yet, just two minutes from where the tourists walk up and down, you have this horrendous thing.' Horrified residents have also said they have seen the area increasingly plagued by drug use - exacerbated by a lack of police presence. However, Torbay Council has announced that the area is set to be the site of a huge £70million regeneration scheme, aimed to tackle the "horrendous" harbourside. It has shared a plan that councillors believe will "revolutionise" the popular town. The Strand area, a former Debenhams store, will be the site of a " high-quality landmark" hotel with a staircase connecting the harbourside with The Terrace. With views of the harbour, the soon-to-be hotel will boast 154 rooms and a luxurious space on the ground floor. Fly-through video shows what major Scots city will look like after huge £20m revamp It's predicted that the development will provide about 80 full-time jobs, £32m in paychecks, and entice 86,000 new visitors to Torquay in the first 30 years. The Strand was bought up in 2020 with planning granted in 2023 when Wilmott Dixon and Milligan appointed as Torbay's regeneration partners Stuart Harris, CEO for Milligan, said: "This is more than just a regeneration project - it's about delivering something truly special for the town, blending high-quality design with exceptional experiences. "One of the key design features is a striking new staircase, which will enhance the public realm and provide a seamless connection between the harbourside and The Terrace improving connectivity to the Hilton, Premier Inn, and car park." The designs are still in the works with Torbay council claiming they want to include "historical elements" in the final design. Residents are able to give their say in summer when the final plans are released with results in early 2026. Torbay council assured locals that no buildings will be demolished until they get the go-ahead from residents. 5 Residents have been complaining about litter on Belgrave Road, Torquay Credit: Devon Live/BPM

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store