On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 23:55:59 -0000, "Peter Crosland"
wrote:

It a long running saga that has been reported at length in The Tines and
elsewhere. A Google search will reveal more. In essence her argument is
that
she should not have to obey the law relating to listed buildings. She has
put up all sorts of arguments none of which stand up to even cursory
scrutiny. An absolute classic case of pig headed stupidity all too common
in
planning disputes where the building owner thinks they are above the law.
Almost without exception it ends up with them losing and with a large
bill.
Why do they do it?


The lady has had polio and is in a wheelchair, Peter.

I am well aware of that.

She should not be put into a position of being unable to use her home.

Her disability is no excuse for breaking the law.

Peter Crosland



Not it isn't.

However there is also such a thing as common sense and of right and
wrong.

In this case, the right thing to do would have been not to have
applied the law and prosecute the lady.

I'll give you another example in the news today. The BBC news site is
carrying an article that the volunteers from a charitable organisation
involved in the attempted rescue of the Thames whale received parking
tickets for £300 from jobsworths employed by TFL.

I was just about to contact them and offer to pay their tickets but
just read on the charity's web site that somebody with a sense of
decency at Westminster City Council has offered to cancel them.
I'm going to send them a donation anyway

That is the difference between stupid and inappropriate application of
law by public sector employees and doing the right thing.


--

..andy