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VIDEO: Leeds pigeon fancier's planning 'coo'
A PIGEON fancier has pulled off a legal planning 'coo'.
Skip hire boss Terry Sandham has been awarded his legal costs back from Leeds City Council, two years after building a luxury pigeon loft without planning permission.
He put planning bosses in a flap after building the palatial bird house on his greenbelt land in Guiseley.
Neighbours said the fancy wooden structure – complete with roof tiles, windows and patio doors – was a "blot on the landscape".
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Now he has been told that following an appeal to the Local Government Inspector, Leeds City Council had demonstrated "unreasonable behaviour" and he was awarded his legal costs, which could reach as much as 20,000.
The 68-year-old, who runs Aireborough Waste Traders, said: "I am glad this sorry saga is finally over with. It has taken more than two years and I have lost more than four stone in weight due to all the stress.
"I am finally celebrating as I always knew I would be. I am just annoyed at the amount this is going to cost local taxpayers."
Mr Sandham built the 18ft x 5ft loft without planning permission on green belt land off The Poplars, in Guiseley.
Following an earlier planning appeal hearing at Leeds Civic Hall, the loft is finally legal, but Mr Sandham must plant trees around the perimeter of his field to screen it from public view.
The landscaping costs will not be paid by the council, as part of the ruling agreement.
Mr Sandham built the new bird house in 2007 on land which he has owned since 1970.
He replaced a crumbling pigeon loft with a new wooden version, not realising he needed new planning permission.
He applied retrospectively and was given permission but then he appealed against the extra costs, due to hiring a solicitor and paying for landscaping.
Mr Sandham has bred pigeons since he was eight, and like his father, has also kept whippets, turkeys, pigs and goats.
The award-winning member of flying clubs in Horsforth and Yeadon, and member of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, said: "All I want to do is tend to my pigeons.
"My loft is my own little garden of Eden, a place to relax and escape from the world – and the planners."
Mr Sandham's solicitor Martin Walker, of Hammonds building and planning section, said: "I'm pleased to say that the Government Inspector has overruled Leeds City Council and allowed Mr Sandham's planning appeal – and the Inspector awarded costs against the Council too because of their 'unreasonable behaviour'."
The Local Government Inspector's decision stated: "I find that unreasonable behaviour resulting in uneccessary expenses has been determined.
"I conclude that an award of partial costs is justified, excluding costs in relation to the landscaping."
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
