Council jobsworths want me to knock down my house – but I’ll go to JAIL before that happens
A MUM has claimed she will go to jail rather than let council jobsworths demolish her home.
Stephanie Rolfe, 41, and Stuart MacDonald, 34, are determined to stay put in their £50,000 home in Solihull, West Midlands.
Solihull Council has ordered the couple to demolish their mobile home, saying it doesn’t “fit” with the area.
The pair face a £60,000 bill to raze the house and fear being made homeless and penniless by Christmas.
Stephanie and Stuart, who have children Freddie, five, and Mollie, two, said the decision could leave them "paying a mortgage on a home they no longer have" amid a cost of living crisis.
Stephanie told the Sun: “I don’t want to demolish it. I’d rather go to prison than knock it down.
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“This is my kids’ home and you’d do anything for your kids.
“We've offered to make changes that will allow us to keep our home but the council won’t listen."
Solihull Council have said the home has a "harmful effect on the character and appearance of the area" and have pressed forward with a demolition order.
And after a four-year saga, the family have now been given 56 days to "dismantle" the moveable house - which replaced a garage previously built on the same site.
The couple could face jail if they fail to comply with the council’s court injunction to demolish the house.
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While this is not a direct threat, if the home is still standing by the end of the order, and they refuse to budge, they could find themselves in court.
They could find themselves in contempt of court for not complying, or even not making any effort to comply and if that is the ruling they could spend time behind bars.
However, that process could take a very long time and they are able to appeal that decision, should it be made.
Stephanie and her partner have the support of their neighbours who are backing them in their fight.
Neighbour Gillian Tipping said: “I have watched Stuart grow up in our street playing alongside my own children when they were younger.
“I now get to see Stuart bring up his own family along with Stephanie.
"Their family bring a lovely feel to our street and they are always helping out in the community.
"It would be devastating for this young family to lose their home.
"Obviously for them but also to the people of our street who many have formed close bonds with."
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Planning permission changed in 2022
Residents now have "more involvement in local development" following new rules brought in back in May.
Neighbours are now allowed to vote on the size and style of extensions, new homes and conversions happening along their street, according to
Residents can also decide whether more loft conversions and conservatories can be built in their local area without full planning permission.
It means that your neighbours could have the power to give the go-ahead - or make you shelve - your plans.
While new developments need to be in keeping with the local area and cannot be built on greenfield sites.
Households will also be able to have "more of a say" over whether street names should be changed.
Check with your local authority to see where you stand.
Nick Jones - whose mum Janet has lived on Kingswood Close for 46 years - said: “We have never had any issue with the construction and appearance of the home.
“In fact it has enhanced that corner of the close.”
Stephanie added: “Not one neighbour has complained to the council. They have all been so supportive of us.
“We’ve had people knock on the door asking if there’s anything they can do to help or to pass on their best wishes.
“One of the things that makes all this so tough to take is that we have the support of the street and yet the council still want to kick us out and bulldoze our home.”
A letter to the council written by the couple's neighbours reads: “We were astounded to hear that legal action has been taken by the council regarding this property.
“When you enter the close you are presented with a smart, well-designed property, making the close look modern and bright, far from the uniform look you can tell it once had been.
“The rendered white, grey and wooden fascias of the property were something that drew us to buying our own property on the close and something that is becoming more popular around the area.
“We have absolutely no objections or issues with the property in question. We feel it is a very inventive use of space that allows three generations of a family to live together.
“We would encourage Solihull council to […] leave this family to live happily in their home.”
A Solihull Council spokesperson said: "The applicant began to build the structure without planning permission in early 2018.
"They were informed in June 2018 that the works were unauthorised, and subsequently applied for a Certificate of Lawful Development, but this was refused and enforcement action commenced a month later, as required by law.
"The enforcement notice was appealed and once again was refused, this time by the Planning Inspectorate. Due to the Covid pandemic, the applicant was given more time to comply with the enforcement notice.
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"The council worked with the family for over four years to respond to enquiries and resolve the planning matter openly and fairly, however they chose not to.
"The council therefore had to consider escalating the matter through the courts. All actions were undertaken in accordance with national planning legislation.”
