Pub landlord takes on 'petty' council... and wins
A PUB landlord has won his case against council officials who told him to pull down a marquee which is used by footballers as a changing room.
Ian Miller spent £400 on the marquee so that his pub’s Sunday league teams had somewhere dry to get changed and have a drink and food after their matches.
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Pictured left to right, Martin Brown , Kev Greatbatch , Ian Miller, Dean Gilson , Don Stanyer
The marquee was put up on the side of the Village Tavern pub, in Joiners Square, and Mr Miller received no complaints about it from neighbours.
But Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s development control committee decided the eight-metre by three-metre marquee was an “eyesore” and authorised enforcement action to pull it down in August.
Mr Miller appealed against the council’s decision and now the Government’s Planning Inspectorate has ruled against the city council, meaning the marquee can stay at the Leek Road pub.
Mr Miller, aged 48, said: “To be honest I’m very surprised we have managed to overturn the decision, but very happy, too.
“I thought what the council did was petty. They didn’t really look at the situation and understand what the marquee was being used for.
“They just thought it was a smoking shelter, which it’s not. It’s a changing room.
“We had more than 300 people sign a petition to keep the marquee up and I’d like to thank them all because they showed what people really thought about it.”
The marquee is used by two of the pub’s senior football teams and a lads and dads team. Mr Miller has now called on the council to look at improving changing facilities at playing fields across the city.
He said: “Before we had the marquee the footballers would have to get changed inside the pub, which was not suitable because of all the mud and mess it would create.
“The teams which change in the marquee play at pitches off Trentmill Road and there are no changing facilities there for them to use.
“When pubs are having to put up marquees so their teams can get changed in a safe environment, then something needs looking at.”
In his findings, Government planning inspector, Robert Sexton, said the marquee had an “adverse visual impact” on its surroundings.
But he added: “Against this is the undoubted benefit to the local community of the continued use of the marquee. In the absence of any alternative changing facilities, it would be regrettable if the removal of the marquee waswere to discourage participation in active sport.
“I do not downplay the objective of achieving good design, but in this instance I believe the retention of the marquee would contribute to the delivery of other, broader Government objectives, including promoting social inclusion and community adhesion, and health and well being.
“Such harm as is caused by the contrasting appearance of the marquee is outweighed by its beneficial use in providing changing facilities for local football teams.”
Paul Edwards, development control manager at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said the council accepted the decision of the Planning Inspectorate.
He said: “The city council thought that the marquee design was not in keeping with its surroundings and rejected the planning application.
“However, on appeal the planning inspector gave more weight to the community benefits of the marquee and overruled the council to grant full planning permission.”
9 Comments
by Dave, Heron X
Wednesday, February 11 2009, 8:27AM
“Dear Mr Miller,
Well done for winning this battle, but expect our petty City Council to be watching your every move. I think you may now have a war on your hands.”
by d.C, s-o-t
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 8:58PM
“GET A LIFE S-O-T CITY COUNCIL AND LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE WHO ARE DOING NO HARM.
THERE ARE LOADS MORE SERIOUS ISSUES THAT NEED ADDRESSING IN THIS CITY.”
by Matt, Tunstall
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 4:30PM
“How dare someone in the city of stoke on trent put a Marquee up to keep his football team, dry, allow them some privacy and bring in extra trade to his pub.
What sort of man is he, to turn Stoke on Trent into an eyesore.
Hang on.... eyesore! Providing decent facilities for a group of men, who've just slogged their guts out, trying to keep a certain fitness level up.
Stoke on Trent council - just give it a rest, and start solving some of the bigger issues facing the city.
Oh, and whilst we are talking about eyesores what do you call Churchills new distribution factory and that giant Tee-pee that was plonked down in Golden Dale Valley.
Now thats what i call an eyesore.
Rant over! Feel better”
by Matt, Tunstall
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 4:25PM
“How dare someone in the city of stoke on trent put a Marquee up to keep his football team, dry, allow them some privacy and bring in extra trade to his pub.
What sort of man is he, to turn Stoke on Trent into an eyesore.
Hang on.... eyesore! Providing decent facilities for a group of men, who've just slogged their guts out, trying to keep a certain fitness level up.
Stoke on Trent council - just give it a rest, and start solving some of the bigger issues facing the city.
Oh, and whilst we are talking about eyesores what do you call Churchills new distribution factory and that giant Tee-pee that was plonked down in Golden Dale Valley.
Now thats what i call an eyesore.
Rant over! Feel better”
by christopher, Bradwell
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 3:56PM
“Can't stand football myself but think it is amazing that the little man won.. well done you!!! anyway to give the council a boot is just fine by me!!!”
by Tracy Smith, Blurton
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 3:23PM
“Well what a day for Mr Miller and the rest of his football teams. Its really nice to hear of someone standing up to this so called council as they call themselves and winning their case. Thats another lot of money this council have wasted trying to do somebody down who is only trying to provide a little bit of community service for his area. But of course in this city you try and do some good and get knocked back time and time again. So Mr Miller i take my hat off to you carry on with your community spirit.”
by stephen, fenton
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 11:24AM
“Good luck to Ian. at least someone in the community is doing some thing for the good of others..Lexicon if it's a tent you won't be able to see smokers in there!! what a silly arguement, it people like you that want to spoil it for others..Unless you fancy goin in for a fag?? get a life.”
by dan, stoke
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 8:16AM
“if there were propper changing rooms these things would not happen. untill these posh farts at the council actually see what goes on and why things are needed, things like this will continue to happen. Mr Miller, the village tavern and all other clubs have my full support in the fight for better community facilities!!”
by lexicon2, stoke
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 7:43AM
“this tent is an eyesore, looks a mess and was put up without planning consent - our planning officers were right to refuse permission - they also accept defeat graciously
are we to understand that the tent will only be used on football days and that we should not expect to see groups of smokers in there?”