Looking through an older copy of the Spectator, I saw mention of a farmer who built himself a new house. However, thoroughly frustrated with the local planners, he decided to buck the system. He built the house, but hid it from view, inside a huge haystack complete with tarpaulin roof. Four years later, he applied for a “Certificate of Lawfulness” which is a sort of get out of jail free card- if no-on has complained after that time, then demolition cannot take place.

The Council don’t see it like that of course, as they argue that people couldn’t see the house to complain about it in the intervening period. What they could see though, was this big ugly haystack. Did they complain about that? Well, perhaps. But agricultural use is exempt from the Town & Country Planning Act. This is why you see large box vans near motorways in fields- the Jobsworths would love to put a stop to it but they currently can’t.

Now I am personally on he side of the Farmer, ironically called Mr. Fidler. Having spent three years on a planning Committee, I’m of the view that people can do what they want with their own property providing it isn’t impacting on others (and even then, if it does but it isn’t for malicious intent then it is for the courts to decide, not the bureaucrats.

Have a look at his rather fine house and also how awful the haystack was. Read about how they had to keep their toddler home from school the day the children were going to draw their houses in case the cunning plan came unstuck.

Story from the Daily Telegraph

He will probably have to demolish it, more’s the pity.

Yet again, the Government claim something is getting better whilst those in the know say otherwise. This time, it is attacks on firemen, (or firefighters, as we call them in these sensitive times. Tell that to my personager though).

Attacking fire crew when they are attending an incident appears to now be a recreational activity for some of the lowlife scum that pass for human beings in this third world country of ours. It isn’t confined to the Brigade either, Joan the Paramedic told me that it happens to Ambulances as well.

“Someone should pass a law…” I hear the moral majority cry. Well they did, a private members bill eventually became the Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006. passing into law on February 20th 2007 by Statutory Instrument SI 2007/153 (click on the footnote 1 to see the actual act).

So, we’ve passed a law, and it has got worse. Why is that?

Well, pardon my ignorance, but wasn’t assaulting people already a criminal offence? Surely the only thing this act achieves is to raise the bar on what sanctions the Judiciary can apply.

A person guilty of an offence under this Act is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

What is a level 5 fine?up to £5000 The sort of people doing this probably don’t have £5,000 so it is hardly an incentive to stop. What it really needs is to be policed vigorously, like it should have been in the first place. (I imagine the legendary Ray Mallon had it well under control in his time in Cleveland Police Force).

Of course, the Police are somewhat under-resourced, on account of the intensive Biro work required in 21st Century Policing. So, instead, I’d suggest to Fire Brigades that have this sort of trouble that they use their hoses as water cannon, and add an indelible dye so that the tossers carry the mark of cain with them for several weeks afterwards and the scuffers can round them up at leisure.

Before the hand wringing Liberals complain about infringing the human rights of these poor deprived children who aren’t to blame because society is, I say spherical and plural to that. With rights go responsibilities and they need to take the consequences of their actions.