Town council to grant aid convicted offender - You can't make it up!!! (November 06, 2011)
Council secures conviction for damage to listed building
Published Friday 18th February 11
Cheltenham Borough Council has successfully taken
legal action following unauthorised works to a listed building in the
town centre.
The result, this month, is the outcome of two
years of investigation by the planning enforcement and conservation
teams, securing a conviction against the then owner, Peter James
Caldwell, a chartered surveyor.
The listed building, 24 Promenade, was the subject of extensive
internal alterations which Mr Caldwell carried out without first
obtaining consent from the council.
The unauthorised works resulted in the stripping out of historic
building fabric and partitions across three floors without notification
or justification, which is a criminal offence under the Planning (
Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
Following a short trial and then changing his plea to guilty, the
court convicted and fined Mr Caldwell. In addition, Mr Caldwell was
ordered to pay the council £3,000 towards its prosecution costs.
Councillor John Rawson, Cabinet member for built environment, says:
"This verdict demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that breaches of
planning control do not go unpunished, and that those responsible are
brought to account."
ENDS
For media enquiries contact: Laura Carter, communications officer, telephone 01242 775037, email laura.carter@cheltenham.gov.uk
Notes:
Cheltenham 's nationally
recognised historic environment includes over 2,500 listed buildings
which form the backbone of the towns built environment of today. These
buildings are of high architectural interest and the Local Planning
Authority considers them of utmost importance and protects them for
future use.
Cheltenham Magistrates Court heard of the 17 separate charges
brought against Mr Caldwell by the Local Planning Authority on 8
February 2011 .
The case was complex and scheduled for a two day hearing.
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The finance committee of Warminster Town Council is meeting on Monday night to consider whether to give Devo development - one of convicted criminal Peter Caldwell's shell companies - more than FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS.
Caldwell, who apparently bought the Town Hall on a whim in September with no clear plan of what to do with the building, doesn't seem to have completed on this purchase or be under any pressure to do so by the receivers or owners of the debt Allied Irish Bank.
WHY NOT?
He may not have any clear idea of what to do with the building but has seemingly been sniffing around for public money and has latched on to the Incredible Warminster Town Council which has found five grand floating about from the old Historic Buildings fund.
HOW DID HE FIND OUT ABOUT THIS ? - WAS IT IN DISCUSSION WITH THE INCREDIBLE TOWN CLERK WHO SEEMS TO COMMENT AND MAKE POLICY? I THOUGHT THAT WAS COUNCILLORS' RESPONSIBILITY
''When I was on the county council I used to serve on this historic buildings body and was often concerned about some of the people who received money,'' said Steve Dancey.
''One was Peter Gough, who despite being on the committee was given £20,000 pounds in 1990 from the committee to improve his shop building in George Street.
''I had huge misgivings about this but could not comment publicly as it was all done in confidential session and I would always have been outvoted by Conservative district councillors Kay Self and John
 House.''
At least Peter Gough was a man who had given years of service to the town and the money stayed in Warminster - Caldwell is a convicted offender and the money will go into his pocket. ''I wonder what Private Eye will make of it all - they will be informed.''
''Tell him to clear off.''
''WE WANT OUR TOWN HALL BACK''
Here is what has been put before town councillors...
12. The Old Town Hall
The members to debate the potential allocation of funds under the original
requirements of the Wiltshire Historic Building Joint Committee fund which
when disbanded paid back to the Council the sum of £5,372 which is now
within its own ear marked reserve.
The original process for granting monies under the Historic Buildings Scheme
was as follows:
• Only the property owner could apply
• The works had to be fully approved by the joint committee and should
have full listed building consent and any planning permission agreed.
• Any works carried out had to be paid for by the owner and reimbursed
through the grant on receipt of a suitable invoice.
The owner of the OTH has approached the Council and advised that he is
taking steps to obtain the relevant planning permission and building consent
to clean the façade, make the roof watertight, deal with the rear toilets, pigeon
proof, paint the windows and provide heating inside. After these issues have
been dealt with he will consider what the next steps might be.
Peter Cauldwell (Sic) has asked whether the members would like the clock bell
working.
For debate
NOTE - They call it the 'Old' Town Hall (but most Warminster people know it as the Town Hall and some know about the old town hall that it was built to replace.)
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