In the latest episode of Brithdir Mawr roundhouse in South Wales the couple that live there have been fined £400 each for failing to demolish the house but the battle to save the house continues.
The low impact roundhouse is barely visible from a distance
Close up view of the roundhouse
House owner Tony Wrench
Sign last Easter when the roundhouse was occupied by concerned squatters
Tony Wrench and Jane Faith live in an amazing, self built, circular eco house on the edge of the Pembrokeshire National Park. The battle to save the house has been going on since 1999 when the National Park Authority first discovered the low impact dwelling. It was all set to have been demolished in Easter this year right up to the point where a group of the couple's friends to come round and help with its destruction. But direct action and squatters saved the house on that occassion and since then Tony has committed himself to trying to save the house.
The couple who live there appeared in crown court last Friday after a magistrates court declined to hear the case in May because "they considered the issues merited deeper consideration than that normally given by a magistrates' court". The crown court fined both Tony and Jane each £400 for failing to comply with an enforcement order issued by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. This was despite the fact the couple's combined income is only £6300 per year and despite the fact that on the day they organised a large group of people to demolish the house they could not do so because it was occupied by intervening squatters.
However the inspiration and support from the direct action organised by The Land is Ours Action in Easter has encouraged the couple to continue the fight to keep the house. Many people now see the house as a national treasure and a model for sustainable and affordable housebuilding in the future.
Despite the harsh sentencing Tony Wrench has kept an optimistic view saying, "The judge could have clobbered us but he didn’t". Magistrates Courts can impose sentences of up to £20,000 whereas Crown Courts can impose unlimited fines. Even the prosecutor sounded sympathetic at times saying the couple, “have been put forward by newspapers and the media as new Robin Hoods.”
Mr Wrench also says on his website that the Judge listened thoughtfully to what they had to say and "made it clear that he considered that the Park had misunderstood the role that the legal system has in enforcement, i.e. the Park should stop trying to get the courts to do their dirty work for them". He is now hoping the Pembrokeshire Parks will now take a more flexible approach, as called for in their own guidelines.
The couple who live there appeared in crown court last Friday after a magistrates court declined to hear the case in May because "they considered the issues merited deeper consideration than that normally given by a magistrates' court". The crown court fined both Tony and Jane each £400 for failing to comply with an enforcement order issued by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. This was despite the fact the couple's combined income is only £6300 per year and despite the fact that on the day they organised a large group of people to demolish the house they could not do so because it was occupied by intervening squatters.
However the inspiration and support from the direct action organised by The Land is Ours Action in Easter has encouraged the couple to continue the fight to keep the house. Many people now see the house as a national treasure and a model for sustainable and affordable housebuilding in the future.
Despite the harsh sentencing Tony Wrench has kept an optimistic view saying, "The judge could have clobbered us but he didn’t". Magistrates Courts can impose sentences of up to £20,000 whereas Crown Courts can impose unlimited fines. Even the prosecutor sounded sympathetic at times saying the couple, “have been put forward by newspapers and the media as new Robin Hoods.”
Mr Wrench also says on his website that the Judge listened thoughtfully to what they had to say and "made it clear that he considered that the Park had misunderstood the role that the legal system has in enforcement, i.e. the Park should stop trying to get the courts to do their dirty work for them". He is now hoping the Pembrokeshire Parks will now take a more flexible approach, as called for in their own guidelines.
Comments
Display the following 5 comments