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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU - log and bin store

46 replies

Ellypoo · 15/09/2015 16:44

We don't have any access to the back of our house, but we have a small front paved yard area.
We have a number of wheelie bins from the local council - recycling, normal waste, garden waste etc; and also a log burner.
Because we can't keep the bins at the back of our house, and we don't want to have to look at them all the time, we have built a store to hide 2 of the bins (we don't use the garden waste one - can't easily get it to/from the garden!) and a log store.
someone has complained to the council, and because we don't have planning permission (we didn't know we needed to tbh), they have asked us to take it down.
So it seems that they would rather see a load of plastic bins lined up outside the front of houses than a discreet store that is in keeping with the local area. Very annoyed, don't know who has reported it, and don't know if it's worth fighting the council.
So, AIBU to want to hide the horrid smelly bins away?

OP posts:

wasonthelist · 15/09/2015 16:50

If you were a big company like a supermarket or housebuilder, you would just ask the LA to let you off and they would. Is it actually planning permission that's needed? Probably best to take it down and then apply. Might be worth asking neighbours if they mind too, so they wouldn't object? I don't think YABU but that's because I think our planning laws are a joke

MsJamieFraser · 15/09/2015 16:52

Well it is probably a health and saftey issue, if you have built a store and have not got planning permission, then you need to take the store down.

It's a static building bins can be easily removed but a store building cannot, it may be unsightly, but your risking people's life's with blocking access partly.

WickedWax · 15/09/2015 16:52

Must be a bloody big bin store if the council are saying you need planning permission?

MumEntous · 15/09/2015 16:56

YANBU! Wheelie bins are so unsightly, no one puts them away on our street

OurBlanche · 15/09/2015 16:57

Contact the council and ask them to come out and look. Then let you know what solution they would prefer.

Sounds odd and no, if it is less than 2 metres and removable, you don't need permission. Unless you live in a conservation area... maybe!

The planning portal is fun to use these days. The only thing I can think of is that you have built 'forward of the front elevation' - half way down the garden, not attached to the house.

www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/

Original poster

Ellypoo · 15/09/2015 16:57

From what we have read, PP is required because it is to the front of our property. It isn't blocking anyones access at all, and I don't see how it can be a H&S issue either.

It is just big enough for 2 wheelie bins, that's all. It is on the side boundary of our front yard, not against any buildings.

OP posts:

OurBlanche · 15/09/2015 16:59

Definitely ask them to come out and discuss it with you. There may be an easy compromise.

MairzyDoats · 15/09/2015 16:59

Why has there been a complaint? Is it blocking someone's view or something?

Original poster

Ellypoo · 15/09/2015 17:00

We can make it removable ourblanche, but from what we can find on the planning portal, because it is at the front, it still wouldn't be allowed.
Not a conservation area.
It is forward of the front elevation (it is where there was a bloody big hedge before), and lower than 2m tall (just high enough to fit the bins in). If it was attached to the house, do you think that would make a difference?

OP posts:

WickedWax · 15/09/2015 17:02

Has anyone from the council actually been out to look at it? When you say 'built' do you mean as in a permanent structure?

Original poster

Ellypoo · 15/09/2015 17:02

It isn't blocking anybody's view, but we think there are some two-faced people in our village. Think we will go round all the immediate neighbours tonight and canvas opinions, and then try to speak to the council tomorrow to ask them to come out and discuss it.
So frustrating - everyone who has mentioned it has said that it is a great idea, and quite a few of the neighbours have said that they are considering doing similar as the bins are just so ugly.

OP posts:

Original poster

Ellypoo · 15/09/2015 17:04

As far as we know, no-one from the council has been out to look at it, although they could have done when we weren't there.
It is attached to the ground - it is built out of wood, so we could easily cut the bottom bits off and detach it from the ground - the back of it forms the boundary fence with our neighbours so would stay where it is.

OP posts:

VodkaValiumLattePlease · 15/09/2015 17:10

If the compliance department thought you'd be able to get retrospective planning permission they would have given you that option. As they haven't its pretty much game over, you have to take it down.

WickedWax · 15/09/2015 17:11

How bizarre. If it's how I'm imagining it looks, then I can't understand at all why they're asking you to take it down.

I'd be inclined to just ignore their request and see what comes of that.

VodkaValiumLattePlease · 15/09/2015 17:15

They're asking them to take it down because you cannot build anything no matter how 'reasonable or nice' is it on the front of your property. And I wouldn't advice someone to ignore this as it can get real ugly real fast if the neighbours get councillors involved.

SistersOfPercy · 15/09/2015 17:16

I'd appeal. Especially as I imagine it looks a lot tidier than the plastic versions you can buy and use without PP.
Personally if they made me take it down i'd buy myself the ugliest plastic store I could find, stick it on the front and paint it custard yellow. See how the moaning bastards like that.

Original poster

Ellypoo · 15/09/2015 17:18

but WHY can't we put something nice on OUR property which improves the look of the place. Just doesn't make sense that people / councils would rather see horrible plastic bins outside a 300 year old cottage than a nice, sympathetic store? Which actually isn't going to look that much different if we take it down, because there will still be a fence in the exact same place!

OP posts:

Original poster

Ellypoo · 15/09/2015 17:21

We agree sisters - it seems crazy doesn't it!

OP posts:

VodkaValiumLattePlease · 15/09/2015 17:22

Because putting something at the front of YOUR property doesn't just effect YOU therefore you need permission.

honeysucklejasmine · 15/09/2015 17:22

There was an article in the news the other day about a family who had to remove their child's Wendy house from the front (and only) garden. Similar case- done busy body thought a tasteful wooden Wendy house spoilt the look of the street or some such nonsense.

Original poster

Ellypoo · 15/09/2015 18:17

There should be a point though that common sense prevails, surely! Especially in that situation honeysuckle, crazy!

OP posts:

Collaborate · 15/09/2015 18:37

We had our bin store extended and now it sticks out a bit from the front of the house. Fortunately it was done more than 4 years ago, so the LPA can't do anything about it.

OP - you may as well apply for retrospective PP. Who's to say that you won't get it? At least then you'll find out which neighbour grassed you up.

chompybot · 15/09/2015 18:39

I read another article - in Brighton I think - where homeowners were being asked to remove cycle stores from the front of their houses, which again seems crazy when people should be encouraged to cycle more. Surely it's in the councils interests to have more cyclists! (Less traffic / parking issues). Seems crazy that people are allowed to pave their front gardens for driveways, but not put up cycle stores.

Interested as we are thinking of putting in a cycle store in the front, even though I know it's against planning, counting on the fact none of our neighbours will care. After all the council don't seem bothered about all the illegal crossovers and badly tarmaced front gardens round here.....

I agree with you a wooden bin store seems much nicer. Maybe someone was jealous, or has nothing better to do with their time. If they do make you take it down you could try a trellis instead? Bet you are dying to know who reported it!

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 15/09/2015 18:42

Phone the planning department. Speak nicely to them, ask what the guidelines are and what they would deem acceptable or what would exempt you from needing planning permission. Usually a temporary or moveable structure does not required planning permission. Ask.

thecatsarecrazy · 15/09/2015 18:46

There was a story on our local news last week where the parents of a baby who needs constant medical supplies put a small shed out the front of the house. They and the people dropping off supplies had easy access. The council told them they needed planning permission so they applied again and had it turned down was told it didn't fit in or some such bollocks.

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