FACE THE FACTS I was denied permission to turn an ugly old takeaway into an incredible three-storey home – so I got my revenge

A FUMING builder has told how he his got revenge after being denied planning permission.

Michael Thomas, 71, was furious when his plan to convert an old pizza takeaway into a three-storey, seven bedroom, house in multiple occupation (HMO), was rejected.

(Michael Thomas, 71, had wanted to convert this building into a home.Credit: SWNS)

(He his revenge by erecting a stone gargoyle of a Councillor on his roof.Credit: SWNS)

(It is poking fun at Councillor Stewart Palmen.Credit: SWNS)

Trowbridge Town Council leader Stewart Palmen objected to the project and put an enforcement notice in place to halt the building project.

Mr Thomas has now taken his revenge by erecting a stone gargoyle of Cllr Palmen on his roof.

The effigy - sporting half-moon spectacles and sticking his tongue out - now adorns the side of the disputed property in the Wiltshire town.

Cllr Palmen, 61, says he was "flattered" by the gargoyle which appeared on the building last week. He said: "It's just been quite amusing. He just started constructing [the HMO] without any planning permission in 2020.

"I reported him to enforcement and in the end, he applied, and it was refused along with his appeals. "He's taken it quite personally and believes the council have dobbed him in.

"He seems to have vendetta against myself - but I quite like gargoyle and would love for it to stay.

Mr Thomas found himself at the centre of legal action from Wiltshire Council after he continued building work on the Newtown property despite an enforcement notice.

After being issued a temporary stop notice on the project, Mr Thomas vowed to complete the conversion.

Following objections from Cllr Palmen and local residents, the stop notice was superseded by an enforcement notice in September 2020.

He then applied for planning permission which was refused by Wiltshire Council in June 2022.

In May this year, an inspector upheld the council's decision after Mr Thomas launched yet another appeal.

The building itself is not listed, but is located in a conservation area.

In June Mr Thomas said he was even willing to go to prison over the dispute.

"If council officers are not following the rules, why should I?

"I am not afraid of going to jail, I have been jailed twice before and I'm told that these days they have toilets and televisions so I don't think that it will be a hardship."

Ref: FACE THE FACTS I was denied permission to turn an ugly old takeaway into an incredible three-storey home – so I got my revenge (thesun)