Our neighbour’s ‘monstrous’ 20m extension is ruining our lives – it’s an eyesore and blocks our ocean view
LOCALS have blasted their neighbour’s 20m-long extension he built in his garden for blocking their ocean views.
Residents have blasted Richard Evans for building the wooden “monstrosity” with a blue tarpaulin roof without planning permission.
They say lives in their picturesque seaside town in Conwy, North Wales, have been made a misery by the illegal structure – which blocks their stunning views of the landscape.
The blue tarpaulin roof flaps in the wind and keeps nearby locals up at night, they say.
Neighbour Alison Sewall said her “dream home” has been ruined by the “eyesore” extension.
She told The Sun: “We bought this as our dream retirement home after looking for the right property.
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“The solicitor did all the searches for us and when we moved here in February 2021, initially we couldn’t have been happier.
“There is the most beautiful view over the River Conway and Conway Bay.
“The sea views we got made it the exact dream place we’d been looking for.
“Then, in July last year, Richard Evans started to put up this eyesore in his back garden, which completely blocked out the view.
”At first it looked as though it was going to be a low shelter of some sort, but then it started to grow into the monstrosity it is now, totally ruining the beautiful view from our house.”
Richard has now applied for retroactive planning permission to keep the extension – which he is understood to use as an office – intact.
Speaking in a council planning meeting, Alison described her heartbreak at discovering the structure was here to stay.
She said: “It (the office) is inescapably dominant and unpleasantly encroaching.
“When we moved, we were in good health, looking forward to retirement.
“The reality is now we are both suffering from stress, anxiety, and insomnia.
“We are both on anti-depressants and prescribed medication.”
Alison said she and her husband were “horrified” by the height of the building.
And she claims a tarpaulin that Mr Evans has draped across the top of it flaps in the wind and keep her and other neighbours awake at night.
Conwy Council rejected Evans’ application for planning permission by nine votes to one, with one abstention.
Councillors had received 12 letters from local residents complaining about the structure – with most saying it was too high and out of character with the local area.
Another neighbour, Keith Williamson, 69, whose property overlooks the building said: “Considering he works for Conway council, that is terrible. From upstairs we can see it all and it looks a right mess.
“We fully support Alison and her husband, David, for challenging the building, and hope the council make him take it down.”
Defiant Richard, speaking through his agent, said: “An altered version of the scheme could be retained on the site without the requirement for any planning consent.”
A Conwy County Borough Council spokesperson said: “The application for retrospective consent for erection of an outbuilding and installation of decking was considered by the Planning Committee on 10 August.
“The Committee was minded to refuse planning permission.”
The Local Planning Authority will consider the next steps – which could involve “enforcement action”.
While the homeowner can appeal, the action could see the property torn down.
A lawyer earlier revealed how far you can build onto your neighbour’s property without council planning permission.
In their findings, planning officers wrote: “The harm identified to the countryside and the unsustainable location is considered to be significant and demonstrable.
“Whilst the development would result in the addition of a dwelling this is not considered a benefit which would outweigh the harm identified.
“Therefore, it is considered that formal enforcement action should be pursued.”
The council gave the Sugdens “six months from the date the notice takes effect” to demolish the houses.
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And neighbours complained about the junk-filled bungalow next-door to them that has trees growing out of it.
Meanwhile another resident was left fuming at their neighbour’s monstrosity extension that was approved because of a council mistake.
