War relic must stay in couple's garden

Kyt · Oct 23, 2008

Personally I would love to have the bunker in my garden!! Such a piece of history needs to be protected from such despoilers

War relic must stay in couple's garden - News - getsurrey

A SURREY couple who have spent nearly two years trying to get rid of a Second World War relic in their garden have failed once again.

Peter and Emma Chambers, of Colekitchen Farm in Shere, near Guildford, put in an application to remove the pillbox at the beginning of last year, but this was refused by the borough council in June 2007.

Determined to have it taken away, the Surrey homeowners took their case to the High Court in an attempt to get the decision over-ruled, but the judge felt the matter had to be decided locally.

A new application for removal was considered last Friday, but it too was rejected.

The council case officer said that the timber-framed pillbox, which dates from the early 1940s, was a historic feature of both the Chambers’ home and the wider area, and therefore could not be removed.

A council report said there was “no clear or overriding justification for the removal of the pillbox”.

The Chambers themselves feel that the ivy-covered brick structure, in its rundown state, detracts from their listed home.

Pillboxes were built as part of a set of measures against the threat of invasion during the Second World War, and it is estimated that about 80% of the total number across Britain have already been removed.

More than 100 people registered their objections to the latest application, with letters being sent to the council from as far afield as North Yorkshire, Salisbury and Bridgend in Wales.

Chris Shepheard, director at the Rural Life Centre in Tilford, has carried out detailed surveys on pillboxes across Surrey.

He said: “It would be very sad to see any pillboxes go. I think originally there were around 2,000 in Surrey, but incredibly many of them are being lost. What I’d like to see is someone to take on one of the pillboxes, restore it and open it up to the public.”

The Chambers did not wish to comment on the situation.
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Antipodean Andy · Oct 23, 2008

What I’d like to see is someone to take on one of the pillboxes, restore it and open it up to the public.
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The Chambers themselves feel that the ivy-covered brick structure, in its rundown state, detracts from their listed home.
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It would appear the Chambers' are in the perfect position to do this since they have a listed house. Surely there's a grant they could get to restore/preserve the pillbox? They must have some sort of sense of history if they're worried about something detracting from their listed home?

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War relic must stay in couple's garden

Kyt Άρης

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Kyt Άρης

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Antipodean Andy New Member

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