Thursday - June 18, 2009

Evicted from cave dwelling without fire exit . AFTER SIXTEEN YEARS. The Nanny State in action!

FIRST, I must thank Christopher again for that great post from yesterday which I’ve just seen. 
It’s also why I’m ten minutes late with my own post here. Which wasn’t intended.  In fact, I originally had no intention of getting out of bed this morning. Wife brought up a hot drink and the paper while I sneezed my way through the first few pages of the morning paper.
Then I saw this on page 9 and said, hold on. What stupidity is this?  (I may talk to myself but at least I don’t answer myself. Well, not always.)

Just who is this guy hurting?  What has happened to free will when you aren’t imposing on others and willing to take risks on your own?  And what risk exactly?
The guy may be a loony tune to some folks but so what.  He’s been there for 16 years without any problem.
But along comes the nanny state to claim that A CAVE NEEDS AN EXIT! 
Well then it is no longer a cave. Is it?  Jeesh!

So I simply HAD to exit bed and boot and post this story.  During which process I found some other interesting items and might get to em later. Not sure yet.

Meanwhile ..........

Eco-warrior evicted from cave dwelling without fire exit
An eco-warrior has been evicted from the cave he lives in on his allotment patch in Brighton, East Sussex, because it doesn’t have a fire exit.

By Aislinn Simpson
The Telegraph

Hilaire Purbrick, 45, has inhabited the seven-foot cave he dug on his plot and dined off the land for the past 16 years.

But after having the dwelling checked by the fire brigade, Brighton and Hove City Council decided it did not have enough exits and sought an injunction banning him from entering it.

Mr Purbrick ignored the order and continued to live in the cave, but was pulled back into court on Tuesday when a judge granted the council a possession order which will allow him to be formally evicted and banned indefinitely from the site.

Mr Purbrick now plans to take his fight to the European Court of Human Rights, claiming his right to a private life and freedom has been breached by the order.

“I am still living there and intend to continue to do so,” he said. “I know lots of people in this town who live in houses with only one door with no fire exit.”

The keen gardener has a history of overcoming legal challenges to his earthy home.

In 1999, town hall authorities threatened to remove him, claiming he was running an illegal vegetable shop.

But Mr Purbick won a reprieve after claiming his site “was hardly a Sainsbury’s” and he only had one customer – a pregnant woman who bought his sprouts.

The following year he successfully fought an eviction order after complaints he was keeping chickens and bees without permission.

Granting the possession order at Brighton County Court, Judge Jonathan Simpkiss said there were legitimate health and safety concerns that the cave could collapse.

“The council considers this was a danger to life. They have a responsibility to the public,” he said.

Mr Purbrick’s decision to appeal to the European courts was made after the judge refused leave to appeal in a UK court, saying it was a “hopeless cause of trying to resist the inevitable”.

SOURCE

Posted by peiper     on 06/18/2009 at 02:59 AM   
Filed Under: • Nanny State • UK •  
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