WORKMEN who built a house with a lamppost stuck through its roof have insisted: “We’re not cowboy builders”.
They say they had no choice but to incorporate the street furniture in the two-bed home – or face a three-month delay.
But the “crazy” move has shocked neighbours in Ashton-Under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, and caused great amusement.
Next door neighbour Pauline Ford, 64, said: “I couldn’t believe it when it went up.
“It’s crazy – just madness to build the roof around the lamppost.
“They are still building it so I don’t know what the owner thinks.”
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Pensioner Robert Hill, 69, added: “It’s a crazy thing to do but is a real talking point.”
Drawings showed the two-bed home, developed Sachdev Properties Limited, was meant to be next to the lamppost.
Having it skewering the roof was not mentioned when planning permission was granted in February 2020 for four new homes.
Builder Dave Green, 52, had noticed one post on Whiteacre Rd was set back further than the others and was right where the fascias of the house were supposed to go.
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But he still went ahead with the construction otherwise “we’d have just held the job up three months”, he explained.
One of Dave’s builders added: “We’re not cowboy builders.”
The saga has since caught the imagination of residents.
Retired admin worker Linda Higbid, 74, said: “I think it will become a tourist attraction. It’s becoming really famous.
“Personally I think it’s hilarious and as long as no-one gets hurt and it’s safe then it’s fine by me.”
Tameside Council have stepped in and the firm has agreed to move the lamppost.
Builder Dave explained: “It’ll be a case of moving a couple of tiles, letting the council remove the lamppost, then we can patch it up”.
A spokesman for Tameside Council said: “We have spoken to the developer and they have agreed to remove the lamppost and replace it nearer a neighbouring boundary wall.”
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Tom Hussey
