Thieves raid Surfleet hotel
THIEVES who stole two quiz machines from a pub totalling thousands of pounds would have been thwarted if changes to its windows had been approved.
That's the claim from landlord Nick Bond who was sleeping upstairs when the Riverside Hotel in Surfleet was burgled overnight on Sunday.
The offenders sawed through rotting wooden frames to steal a one-armed bandit and a quiz machine worth 2,000 plus spirits from the cellar, before leaving through the pub door.
Mr Bond (51) wanted to replace all the windows with pvc frames but South Holland District Council said they needed to be done in wood despite previous approval for a pvc conservatory to the rear.
The part-retrospective application was refused because it would be "detrimental to the character of the pub" and is currently under appeal.
Mr Bond said: "If it had been pvc there's no way anyone would have got in.
"I have no problem with it being wood but it would cost three times as much and it's not a listed building or in a conservation area.
"The council seems to be dead against people moving forward and letting their businesses and their properties grow.
The machines were dumped nearby on land often used by flytippers, another source of frustration for Mr Bond.
The council said it is looking into it and is not aware of any previous complaints, although Mr Bond has a letter concerning the matter from 2006.
Head of planning and development Steve Williams said: "The Riverside Hotel has a rather complicated planning history but we gave some detailed advice to Mr Bond's agent well over a year ago which he has not followed up.
"This included advice about replacement windows and potential ways of improving security in them.
"In the circumstances, whilst we sympathise with Mr Bond, to suggest there is a connection between planning and the unfortunate burglary seems unfounded."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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