County Derry Post

Spectacular pillars erected outside a new house near Bellaghy may have to be tumbled after DoE chiefs refused a retrospective planning application.

The eight landmark columns with life sized lions perched on top were erected outside a new house on the Deerpark Road.

However, the pillars, walls and entrance gates to the house were built without planning permission.

And now a late application to planners has been refused meaning the striking gate posts, which cost thousands of pounds, may have to be torn down.

The decision comes just weeks after a Swatragh man was forced to knock down a brand new bungalow built without permission.

A spokesman for the Planning Service said: “An opinion to refuse was reached because the proposal was contrary to draft Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 14 - Sustainable Development in the Countryside, as the entrance pillars are obtrusive at this rural location.

“The application has now been deferred because until the revised draft policy is published for consultation, all applications received after 16 March 2006 refused under draft PPS14 will automatically be deferred at the request of the council.”