Couple locked in neighbour row ordered to tear down home gym as war over parking spaces erupts… they say ‘it's not us'

The Sun

4 days ago

A COUPLE are fuming after being ordered to rip down their home gym after neighbours' "ludicrous" complaints.
Emma Woodley and Paul Willis forked out tens of thousands of pounds for the structure on their driveway in Basingstoke, Hants,.
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Paul, who runs his own person training business, believed he would be able to build the single-storey structure without planning permission.
But the pair have seen their dream work-out space axed after locals moaned it would create parking chaos on the estate.
The home gym was erected in one of the two spaces on their £440,000 property, which sparked fear among neighbours the road would be clogged with cars.
Complaints resulted in councillors rejecting the pair's retrospective application on the grounds it would "set a precedent".
Officials claimed if other residents followed suit, there could be "no other parking spaces" left on the street.
Local Olivia Lucas said in a letter objecting to retrospective planning permission: "As a resident, we already have parking issues with either cars parking fully on the road and other users being unable to get past, or parking on the pavements and pedestrians routinely putting themselves, children and dogs in danger having to walk out from a blind spot behind one of these cars.
"As this property has already been erected I have witnessed the danger that this owner is causing by parking their car on the road rather than on the driveway that once was (not to mention all of their client's [sic] cars on a Tuesday night).
"People turning into [the road] have to use up the full width of the road because they are unable to see the any oncoming traffic due to [their] car being parked on the road and therefore a head-on collision is inevitable at some point."
The disgruntled resident claimed the gym forced Paul and Emma to park on the corner of the road which caused visibility issues for drivers.
But Emma, 43, hit back: "Of the 18 that are unallocated spaces, there are five to six empty at any one time."
The IT manager continued: "We didn't use both of those spaces prior to the building being built anyway, just because of the constant need to keep pulling out into a road which we didn't have good visibility to see, causing more of a hindrance to pedestrians and drivers.
"There's a bend to the road and a hill, so we have to be on the road to get safe visibility about whether it's safe to move out or not."
Emma also argued clients who train in the gym are asked to park in unallocated spaces nearby, rather than on the street.
The devastated couple claimed their loss will have a significant impact on Paul's business.
They even said the decision could force them to pack up and move due to financial struggles.
Emma branded the ordeal "ludicrous" and highlighted how other residents have caravans and sheds on their driveways.
This comes after homeowners who built a tiny gym in their driveway without planning permission have slammed a 'jobsworth' council for ordering them to rip it down.
Madam Pal Singh was given the green-light to build a single-storey garage at his semi in Highgate, Birmingham.
But when a bigger property appeared at the end of the driveway, town hall planners demanded the structure be razed to the ground.
Council chiefs gave the family until July to pull down the new building after losing an appeal, but it still remains standing.
Elsewhere, another couple who paid their neighbour £53,000 to build a gym in the garden have branded it "rubbish" - and are suing him for £215,000.
Paras Dodhia and his wife Devina had high hopes that pensioner Tommy Joyce would transform the yard of their Middlesex home.
But after forking out thousands, the pair were left fuming at the "rubbish" quality and "shoddy" workmanship.
The gym enthusiasts claim Mr Joyce's gym was so "atrocious" they were forced to gut and demolish it.
Plus, the UK's 'biggest man cave' is finally being torn down as work got underway to demolish the 'eyesore' building.
Millionaire accountant Graham Wildin illegally built the private leisure complex behind his home in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire,
Wildin, 72, has served a prison sentence over his refusal to remove the massive 'man cave' and now, after repeatedly flouting orders from local planners and the court, Forest of Dean Council has begun demolition work.
Wildin had the huge building - housing a cinema, tenpin bowling alley and casino, erected at his home in 2014 without planning permission.
What to Do If You Disagree with the Council's Planning Decision
Disputes over planning applications can be stressful, but there are steps you can take to challenge or resolve the situation:
Understand the Reasons: Carefully review the council's decision and the specific reasons for refusal or enforcement. This will help you identify areas to address.
Seek Professional Advice: Consult a planning consultant or solicitor with expertise in planning law. They can offer tailored advice and represent your case if necessary.
Submit an Appeal: If you believe the decision is unfair, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Be prepared to provide evidence and technical details to support your case.
Explore Compromise: Engage with the council to see if a compromise can be reached. Adjusting aspects of the development, such as materials or design, may lead to an acceptable solution.
Engage the Community: Support from neighbours and local residents can strengthen your position. A petition or letters of support may highlight the development's benefits.
Act Promptly: There are strict time limits for appeals and responses to enforcement notices. Ensure you act within the specified deadlines to avoid further complications.
Remember, while it can be frustrating, maintaining a constructive dialogue with the council is often the best way to find a resolution.
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