A couple whose collection of over 30 garden gnomes sparked a row with neighbours have won their battle to keep them. Adina and Sorin Banatean, who live in Nelson, Lancashire, believed their colourful display of ornamental figurines, golden lion statues and lights would brighten up their street.
But angry locals complained after the Banateans installed a decorative well, bird feeder and a couple of pergolas outside their home without planning permission. A number of neighbours complained to Pendle Council, claiming the additions were unpleasant to look at.
One complaint read: “The wishing well, with its large-sized flashing lights, is obstructive, unsightly and appears out of place. The overall proposal is very unattractive and negatively impacts the area.”
Another described the ornaments as “over the top” and the amount of lights on the outside of the property were “above the level of any normal home”.
A third complaint, who dismissed the displays as a “mad hatter’s tea party”, noted: “If this is approved it will be a shame to the area.”
Mr and Mrs Banatean fought back against the complaints, telling the Daily Mail: “It is our property and what we did was within our garden.”
The same publication reports that Pendle Council sent the couple a letter, advising them of the complaints and that the additions required planning permission.
Council chiefs approved the Banateans application for retrospective planning permission, much to their delight.
A jubilant Mr Banatean said: “I was happy when the council approved our application as we weren’t sure if they were going to.”
“It is our property, and what we did was within our garden. We love the garden and the gnomes. They make us happy. The children love them. It was just two or three complaining neighbours.”
Planning officer John Halton recommended the application be approved in a report sent to officials in October.
He said the installations were “appropriate with a garden setting” and the lighting wouldn’t cause a disturbance to neighbours or wildlife.
Lancashire County Council, which acted as the local highway authority, didn’t raise an objection about the development either.
