Wendy house war
Family in planning row... after neighbours complain
IT was meant to provide a bit of fun for his children, who are still too young to go to the playpark on their own.
But father-of-two Brendan Burke has been left battling council bureaucracy over a colourful playhouse in his garden.
The 27-year-old has been forced to get planning permission after a neighbour complained to the council about the structure.
Mr Burke’s daughters Tilly-May, six, and Amelia-Rose, four, were given the playhouse by their uncle last month.
The family, from Airdrie, Lanarkshire, were pleased with the gift because it meant the youngsters no longer had to play in the nearby park, which is ‘covered in glass, needles and dog dirt’.
Mr Burke said: ‘I really don’t get this. It’s not like my kids play on it for the whole night. They are in their bed for 7pm every night.
‘My kids just play on it when they finish school. I don’t know who made the complaint. I still haven’t got an answer as to why I should have it removed.
‘I’m not taking it down unless they want to go to court with it. I just think the way the council is treating this is shocking.’
The family have 28 days to make their case before North Lanarkshire Council demands it is taken down.
Mr Burke has collected 1,000 signatures on a petition supporting his fight, which he has submitted to the local authority.
He said: ‘The playhouse is all fixed with pins so it isn’t going to fall or anything like that. It’s in my front garden because my back garden has slopes all over it.
‘It is not blocking anyone else, it only blocks my windows, which I do not mind.’ He added: ‘Six kids normally play on it, my two and the rest from the neighbourhood.
‘Its much safer. There’s a park about 400 yards from my house and it’s covered in glass, needles and dog dirt.’
A spokesman for North Lanarkshire Council said: ‘We’ve got to consider the impact such a largescale play facility could have on neighbours.
‘We’ve been in touch and advised him [Mr Burke] that he requires to apply for permission to keep the play facility in the garden and once the application is received, it will then be considered.’