One of the houses on my street of victorian terraces has just been
"refurbished" which has included the replacement of wooden sash windows
with nasty plastic casement ones.

I think I'll contact the relevant department at the local council
tomorrow. Somehow I suspect they won't do very much. Even if they do
take an interest it would be very easy for the developer to say that
the windows have been in there for a while (the street was only
designated as a conservation area about five years ago). Anyone have
any experience of this type of thing?

Martin Pentreath wrote:
One of the houses on my street of victorian terraces has just been
"refurbished" which has included the replacement of wooden sash windows
with nasty plastic casement ones.

I think I'll contact the relevant department at the local council
tomorrow. Somehow I suspect they won't do very much. Even if they do
take an interest it would be very easy for the developer to say that
the windows have been in there for a while (the street was only
designated as a conservation area about five years ago). Anyone have
any experience of this type of thing?

yeah, mind your own business you annoying, interfering petty little busybody.

Martin Pentreath wrote:
One of the houses on my street of victorian terraces has just been
"refurbished" which has included the replacement of wooden sash windows
with nasty plastic casement ones.

I think I'll contact the relevant department at the local council
tomorrow. Somehow I suspect they won't do very much. Even if they do
take an interest it would be very easy for the developer to say that
the windows have been in there for a while (the street was only
designated as a conservation area about five years ago). Anyone have
any experience of this type of thing?


Just what is you f&^#ing problem? It's bad enough that we have these
idiotic conservation rules, without people like you going round
reporting others. Honestly, hand on heart, how is this impacting your
quality of life?


--
Grunff

On 8 Nov 2006 10:21:36 -0800 Martin Pentreath wrote :
One of the houses on my street of victorian terraces has just been
"refurbished" which has included the replacement of wooden sash
windows with nasty plastic casement ones.

I think I'll contact the relevant department at the local council
tomorrow. Somehow I suspect they won't do very much.

Unless there's an Article 4 direction I'm not sure that the council
can do anything.

--
Tony Bryer SDA UK 'Software to build on' http://www.sda.co.uk

"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
ups.com...
One of the houses on my street of victorian terraces has just been
"refurbished" which has included the replacement of wooden sash windows
with nasty plastic casement ones.

I think I'll contact the relevant department at the local council
tomorrow. Somehow I suspect they won't do very much. Even if they do
take an interest it would be very easy for the developer to say that
the windows have been in there for a while (the street was only
designated as a conservation area about five years ago). Anyone have
any experience of this type of thing?

If your life is so dull and boring, have you thought of becoming a Refuse
Bin Inspector?

"Alan" wrote in message
...

"Grunff" wrote in message
...
Martin Pentreath wrote:
One of the houses on my street of victorian terraces has just been
"refurbished" which has included the replacement of wooden sash windows
with nasty plastic casement ones.

I think I'll contact the relevant department at the local council
tomorrow. Somehow I suspect they won't do very much. Even if they do
take an interest it would be very easy for the developer to say that
the windows have been in there for a while (the street was only
designated as a conservation area about five years ago). Anyone have
any experience of this type of thing?


Just what is you f&^#ing problem? It's bad enough that we have these
idiotic conservation rules, without people like you going round
reporting
others. Honestly, hand on heart, how is this impacting your quality of
life?


--
Grunff

he has obviously got f*** all to other than cause trouble by being an
interfering nosy busybody, his wife has probably left him and his
children
don't want anything to do with him so this is how he gets to talk to
people

Are you saying that the OP is a Turtill sockpuppet?

"Grunff" wrote in message
...
Martin Pentreath wrote:
One of the houses on my street of victorian terraces has just been
"refurbished" which has included the replacement of wooden sash windows
with nasty plastic casement ones.

I think I'll contact the relevant department at the local council
tomorrow. Somehow I suspect they won't do very much. Even if they do
take an interest it would be very easy for the developer to say that
the windows have been in there for a while (the street was only
designated as a conservation area about five years ago). Anyone have
any experience of this type of thing?


Just what is you f&^#ing problem? It's bad enough that we have these
idiotic conservation rules, without people like you going round reporting
others. Honestly, hand on heart, how is this impacting your quality of
life?


--
Grunff

he has obviously got f*** all to other than cause trouble by being an
interfering nosy busybody, his wife has probably left him and his children
don't want anything to do with him so this is how he gets to talk to
people

Go for it. There may be several contraventions. Buidling regulations
approval. Planning approval. Listed building approval. I might have
some sympathy with a homeowner making a mistake, a developer should
know better. If one person is taking the p***, others will follow and
you may soon live amongst stone cladding and upvc. If he didn't like
the rules, he shouldn't have bought the house, and left it for somebody
that does appreciate a conservation area.

Grunff wrote:

Just what is you f&^#ing problem? It's bad enough that we have these
idiotic conservation rules, without people like you going round
reporting others. Honestly, hand on heart, how is this impacting your
quality of life?

Hi Grunff, Alan, etc

I just don't like the new windows. I must be particularly anal, because
I feel the same way about satellite dishes and wheelie bins. Luckily
the rules are on my side in my neighbourhood.

Why do I have a feeling that I've unleashed something worse than combi
wars?

On the offchance that the signal to noise ratio might rise above zero,
anyone have any experience of this? There is already an article 4
direction in force.

Martin

wrote in message
oups.com...
Go for it. There may be several contraventions. Buidling regulations
approval. Planning approval. Listed building approval. I might have
some sympathy with a homeowner making a mistake, a developer should
know better. If one person is taking the p***, others will follow and
you may soon live amongst stone cladding and upvc. If he didn't like
the rules, he shouldn't have bought the house, and left it for somebody
that does appreciate a conservation area.

One of the professors here is disabled. She installed PVC doors so that she
could easily get in and out of her house. They started to harass her about
it, but I believe she just paid the fine and kept her doors. It was in the
times last year.

One of the houses on my street of victorian terraces has just been
"refurbished" which has included the replacement of wooden sash
windows with nasty plastic casement ones.

I think I'll contact the relevant department at the local council
tomorrow. Somehow I suspect they won't do very much. Even if they do
take an interest it would be very easy for the developer to say that
the windows have been in there for a while (the street was only
designated as a conservation area about five years ago). Anyone have
any experience of this type of thing?

The glass will have date codes so the council will be able to check. If the
fail to act then report them to the Local government ombudsman.

Peter Crosland

Martin Pentreath wrote:

I just don't like the new windows.

But they aren't on your house!


I must be particularly anal

Nooo? Really??


because
I feel the same way about satellite dishes and wheelie bins. Luckily
the rules are on my side in my neighbourhood.

ROFL - the others are right, you really do have way too much time on
your hands.


Why do I have a feeling that I've unleashed something worse than combi
wars?

Because no one likes people who unnecessarily interfere in other
people's lives?


--
Grunff

wrote:

If he didn't like
the rules, he shouldn't have bought the house, and left it for somebody
that does appreciate a conservation area.


While I agree with that sentiment to some degree, reporting someone for
breaking the rules in a way that really doesn't affect you in any way is
just not on.


--
Grunff

Aaron Borbora ) gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying :

One of the professors here is disabled. She installed PVC doors so
that she could easily get in and out of her house. They started to
harass her about it, but I believe she just paid the fine and kept her
doors. It was in the times last year.

Unless there was a very good reason why the doors HAD to be tupperware
instead of a more appropriate material, I fail to see how disability access
is a good reason to breach conservation area rules.

) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
saying :

If he didn't like the rules, he shouldn't have bought the house, and left
it for somebody that does appreciate a conservation area.

applause

wrote in message
oups.com...
Go for it. There may be several contraventions. Building regulations
approval. Planning approval. Listed building approval. I might have
some sympathy with a homeowner making a mistake, a developer should
know better. If one person is taking the p***, others will follow
and you may soon live amongst stone cladding and upvc. If he didn't
like the rules, he shouldn't have bought the house, and left it for
somebody that does appreciate a conservation area.


Quite so - you put it well. I was wondering when someone would
post in support of the OP.

--
DB.

Peter Crosland wrote:

The glass will have date codes so the council will be able to check. If the
fail to act then report them to the Local government ombudsman.

Thanks Peter, didn't know about date codes, a veritable busybodies
charter!

Hi again Grunff, good thing we're not neighbours, eh? ;-)

Martin Pentreath wrote:
Grunff wrote:

Just what is you f&^#ing problem? It's bad enough that we have these
idiotic conservation rules, without people like you going round
reporting others. Honestly, hand on heart, how is this impacting your
quality of life?

Hi Grunff, Alan, etc

I just don't like the new windows. I must be particularly anal,
because I feel the same way about satellite dishes and wheelie bins.
Luckily the rules are on my side in my neighbourhood.

Why do I have a feeling that I've unleashed something worse than combi
wars?

On the offchance that the signal to noise ratio might rise above zero,
anyone have any experience of this? There is already an article 4
direction in force.

Martin

It's his house not yours, if you don't like it, **** the hell off.

Phil L wrote:

It's his house not yours, if you don't like it, **** the hell off.

Hi Phil,

Well I suppose it might work, but where to **** off to? I didn't like
where I used to live so I ****ed off to a conservation area. I'm
running out of options.

Martin

Grunff ) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
saying :

If he didn't like the rules, he shouldn't have bought the house, and
left it for somebody that does appreciate a conservation area.

While I agree with that sentiment to some degree, reporting someone for
breaking the rules in a way that really doesn't affect you in any way is
just not on.

But it _does_.

Conservation area rules are in place to protect the appearance and
character of an area from inappropriate development. That inappropriate
development affects the whole area.

If you don't like the restrictions, don't buy in a conservation area. It
really is that simple. If you do, then you should expect to be pulled up if
you breach those rules.

Martin Pentreath wrote:
Peter Crosland wrote:

The glass will have date codes so the council will be able to check.
If the fail to act then report them to the Local government
ombudsman.

Thanks Peter, didn't know about date codes, a veritable busybodies
charter!

Hi again Grunff, good thing we're not neighbours, eh? ;-)

Before you embark on your latest quest, be aware that he has full access to
all complaints, IE he can (and probably will) go to the council and will be
shown letters, transcripts of phone calls and meetings, and any other
official complaints made against him by you or anyone else...be also aware
that he can do a lot more than replace a few windows to make your house
price tumble and lower the general tone of the 'hood.....letting the house
to a load of pikeys or painting it vivid pink springs to mind and this is if
he's reasonable, if he's not, you might have to replace your own windows
too.

Martin Pentreath wrote:
Phil L wrote:

It's his house not yours, if you don't like it, **** the hell off.

Hi Phil,

Well I suppose it might work, but where to **** off to? I didn't like
where I used to live so I ****ed off to a conservation area. I'm
running out of options.

Martin

Have you tried Rockall? - lovely sea views, fresh air and no people there
for you to harrass.

Phil L ) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying :

Just what is you f&^#ing problem? It's bad enough that we have these
idiotic conservation rules, without people like you going round
reporting others. Honestly, hand on heart, how is this impacting your
quality of life?

It's his house not yours, if you don't like it, **** the hell off.

There's quite a lot of (probably wilful) misunderstanding of the concept of
a conservation area going on.

On Wed, 08 Nov 2006 19:30:28 GMT, "Phil L"
wrote:

Martin Pentreath wrote:
Peter Crosland wrote:

The glass will have date codes so the council will be able to check.
If the fail to act then report them to the Local government
ombudsman.

Thanks Peter, didn't know about date codes, a veritable busybodies
charter!

Hi again Grunff, good thing we're not neighbours, eh? ;-)

Before you embark on your latest quest, be aware that he has full access to
all complaints, IE he can (and probably will) go to the council and will be
shown letters, transcripts of phone calls and meetings, and any other
official complaints made against him by you or anyone else...be also aware
that he can do a lot more than replace a few windows to make your house
price tumble and lower the general tone of the 'hood.....letting the house
to a load of pikeys or painting it vivid pink springs to mind and this is if
he's reasonable, if he's not, you might have to replace your own windows
too.

More to the point, pentreath (obviously a cousin of someone else on
uk.legal ;o) is actually *contributing* to the devaluation of the
neighbourhood - remember pentreath that you have to declare
disagreements with neighbours when flogging your (probably nothing
more than an overpriced barratt) home

While I agree with that sentiment to some degree, reporting someone for
breaking the rules in a way that really doesn't affect you in any way is
just not on.

Isn't it? If I see someone fly tipping do I not report it unless it's
in my street? Or if a see someone destroying a historic monument - do I
not report it if it's not my historic monument?

Phil L wrote:

Have you tried Rockall? - lovely sea views, fresh air and no people there
for you to harrass.

Good practical advice - I've filed it in the same place as Grunff's.

Adrian wrote:
Phil L ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

Just what is you f&^#ing problem? It's bad enough that we have
these idiotic conservation rules, without people like you going
round reporting others. Honestly, hand on heart, how is this
impacting your quality of life?

It's his house not yours, if you don't like it, **** the hell off.

There's quite a lot of (probably wilful) misunderstanding of the
concept of a conservation area going on.

and what are they trying to conserve? - I'll tell you, considering I've
worked on many listed buildings and other conservation type properties, they
are concerned about the overall appearance, this doesn't mean you can't
change sash windows for casement windows, this means so long as the overall
appearance isn't unjustly affected, you can do pretty much what you
like....I'll wager that the council already know and have approved anyway so
it's a moot point.

One of the professors here is disabled. She installed PVC doors so that she
could easily get in and out of her house. They started to harass her about
it, but I believe she just paid the fine and kept her doors. It was in the
times last year.

The building control approved documents has many provisions for
disabled people. The disability discrimination act made provisions for
appropriate and practicable adaptation of older commercial buildings.
I'd be surprised if conservation area rules didn't have such
provisions, where it was relevant to a disability.

Do you have a link to the Times article?

Realistically councils do sometimes get on their high horse and
prosecute/persecute when a more understanding approach would be
appropriate.

Phil L wrote:

they
are concerned about the overall appearance, this doesn't mean you can't
change sash windows for casement windows, this means so long as the overall
appearance isn't unjustly affected, you can do pretty much what you
like....I'll wager that the council already know and have approved anyway so
it's a moot point.

Hi again Phil,

In this particular area the order expressly specifies that the wooden
sashes must be retained or replaced like with like. It also prohibits
satellite dishes on the front of the building - what a liberty, eh?

It even prohibits painting the houses pink. Ironic considering it must
all be motivated by town hall marxists ;-)

Cheers,

Martin

Nullified wrote:

More to the point, pentreath (obviously a cousin of someone else on
uk.legal ;o) is actually *contributing* to the devaluation of the
neighbourhood - remember pentreath that you have to declare
disagreements with neighbours when flogging your (probably nothing
more than an overpriced barratt) home

Hi nullified,

That is in fact an excellent point! Would a request to the council to
enforce the order (as opposed to a direct falling out with the builder)
need to be disclosed in the conveyancing process? At the risk of
further infuriating Grunff, Phil, etc the house is about seven doors
down, so not exactly an immediate neighbour.

Overpriced my house certainly is. However, Barratt were not building in
1870, although the victorian cowboys who put this place together were
are their spiritual ancestors.

Yours,

Pentreath (Martin), Mr

Martin Pentreath wrote:

At the risk of
further infuriating Grunff, Phil, etc the house is about seven doors
down, so not exactly an immediate neighbour.


I'd already guessed that part.


--
Grunff

"Phil L" wrote in message
news
Martin Pentreath wrote:
Peter Crosland wrote:

The glass will have date codes so the council will be able to check.
If the fail to act then report them to the Local government
ombudsman.

Thanks Peter, didn't know about date codes, a veritable busybodies
charter!

Hi again Grunff, good thing we're not neighbours, eh? ;-)

Before you embark on your latest quest, be aware that he has full access
to all complaints, IE he can (and probably will) go to the council and
will be shown letters, transcripts of phone calls and meetings, and any
other official complaints made against him by you or anyone else...be also
aware that he can do a lot more than replace a few windows to make your
house price tumble and lower the general tone of the 'hood.....letting the
house to a load of pikeys or painting it vivid pink springs to mind and
this is if he's reasonable, if he's not, you might have to replace your
own windows too.


I agree with you too Martin, what's the point in having a conservation area
that can't be conserved? If your neighbour hadn't broke the ruling that
applied to his house in his full knowledge you wouldn't be in this position.

I'm doing what I can in my road ( non-conservation area ) to retain old
features and keep new stuff in sympathy, but most people just replace old
curved/carved wooden bits with straight/plain upvc. Total charisma bypass
results.

I have no recourse in these circumstances to get people to do a better job,
but I knew that when I moved in, I just watch the upvc creep and bite my
lip, but then I and they don't live in a conservation area. If I did I'd
have had the ******* who knocked down a great lump of ancient devon hedge
just so he didn't have to aim his car particularly well when entering or
leaving his front garden.

I have got a buddy at the end of the road though, he's converted his
bungalow to have attic rooms and instead of doing what everyone else does
and having a portacabin planted on his roof, he's done a very good-looking
tiled, pitched roof with several dormer windows.

Andy.

"Adrian" wrote in message
. 244.170...
Aaron Borbora ) gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying :

One of the professors here is disabled. She installed PVC doors so
that she could easily get in and out of her house. They started to
harass her about it, but I believe she just paid the fine and kept her
doors. It was in the times last year.

Unless there was a very good reason why the doors HAD to be tupperware
instead of a more appropriate material, I fail to see how disability
access
is a good reason to breach conservation area rules.

I think it was so that she could open them- otherwise they would have been
to heavy for her.
http://www.cherwell.org/news/disable...to_crown_court
http://www.cherwell.org/disabled_don...ospect_of_jail

Haven't heard anything since so I assume she got away with it.

"Adrian" wrote in message
. 244.170...
) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
saying :

If he didn't like the rules, he shouldn't have bought the house, and left
it for somebody that does appreciate a conservation area.

applause
Why should other people have any control over what he does with his
property? If they don't like it perhaps they should pay for it.

More to the point, pentreath (obviously a cousin of someone else on
uk.legal ;o) is actually *contributing* to the devaluation of the
neighbourhood - remember pentreath that you have to declare
disagreements with neighbours when flogging your (probably nothing
more than an overpriced barratt) home

Hi nullified,

That is in fact an excellent point! Would a request to the council to
enforce the order (as opposed to a direct falling out with the
builder) need to be disclosed in the conveyancing process?
At the
risk of further infuriating Grunff, Phil, etc the house is about
seven doors down, so not exactly an immediate neighbour.

In which case then there would be no need whatsoever to dislose it. Don't
worry about upsetting the kikes of Grunf because that is their purpose in
life!

Overpriced my house certainly is. However, Barratt were not building
in 1870, although the victorian cowboys who put this place together
were are their spiritual ancestors.

How very true!

Peter Crosland

Peter Crosland wrote:

In which case then there would be no need whatsoever to dislose it. Don't
worry about upsetting the kikes of Grunf because that is their purpose in
life!


I don't have any kikes, and I object to your use of such a highly
derogatory term.

What do you mean it's my purpose in life? What is my purpose?


--
Grunff

Peter Crosland wrote:

Hi Peter,

In which case then there would be no need whatsoever to dislose it.

Thanks for that.

Don't
worry about upsetting the kikes of Grunf because that is their purpose in
life!

Funnily enough the objective of not upsetting Grunff fell off my agenda
around about the same time as he submitted his first post ;-)

Cheers!

Martin

In which case then there would be no need whatsoever to dislose it.

Thanks for that.

Don't
worry about upsetting the kikes of Grunf because that is their
purpose in life!

Funnily enough the objective of not upsetting Grunff fell off my
agenda around about the same time as he submitted his first post ;-)

In case somebody accuses me of racism of course I meant likes not kikes when
I referred to him!

Peter Crosland

On 8 Nov 2006 10:21:36 -0800, "Martin Pentreath"
wrote:

One of the houses on my street of victorian terraces has just been
"refurbished" which has included the replacement of wooden sash windows
with nasty plastic casement ones.

I think I'll contact the relevant department at the local council
tomorrow. Somehow I suspect they won't do very much. Even if they do
take an interest it would be very easy for the developer to say that
the windows have been in there for a while (the street was only
designated as a conservation area about five years ago). Anyone have
any experience of this type of thing?

Yes across the Knavesmire in York (a very sensitive area, opposite the
racecourse) they made someone rip out some unsuitable reecently
installed plastic windows (IMO they are *all* unsuitable) and restore
the building.

However Councils can and do take what view they want of issues, and
the can also choose those which they address, and those which they let
pass.

Do you have any influence in your community?

Member of the local golf club, Chamber of Trade etc.

DG

Peter Crosland wrote:

In case somebody accuses me of racism of course I meant likes not kikes when
I referred to him!


Yes, of course you did...


--
Grunff