OK, so this Topic has been dormant for 11 months, but here's a bit that might help.
First off - CRUCIAL ! - "Alterations" are zero-rated for VAT - but in the last budget this is to end on 1st October, so p u l l y o u r f i n g e r o u t ! ! !
2nd, see the scary cautionary tale headed "Conservation Cops" from the Sunday Times, 17 May 2005 (I can't upload it, as it's a .pdf, and copyright) 248 Kb
3rd, they can do what they want - because they can. What Kipling described as "the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages - power without responsibility"
4th, see
http://targetfreedom.typepad.com/targetfreedom/2009/09/local-fascism.html from which:-
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Fascism is a governmental system which permits a certain degree of "private" property or business ownership, but the management of the property is under governmental oversight.
Owners are generally allowed to retain title to property, but are prohibited from using property in any way which does not follow some governmental law or regulation. Governmental law or regulation might be ambiguous or self-contradictory.
After being denied any control as to what can be done with property these victimized owners are granted the privilege of paying taxes on the property. This type of symbolic ownership makes property ownership into a burden rather than a benefit. Property "owners" are also given the duty of maintaining the property, and the standards for this maintenance are dictated by government. The government might set unreasonable requirements as to the maintenance of the property, which is always at the expense of the "owner".
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5th. Someone is doing a PhD on the topic, and seeks evidence - boy, is she getting an earful from us !
The latest gem...
We eventually got the Listed Building Consent to do much of the work on the roof. The scaffolders came and did their erection. The roofer came and did his work. On Monday last, I climbed the scaffold for one last check. I looked again at the SKY aerial, and wondered again whether we should take it down, as we don't subscribe, never have, probably never shall. On balance, I decided - again - to leave it, as future owners might subscribe. Also, taking it down, although simple enough, would leave a "scar" in the (new) paintwork right down the gable.
The day after the scaffold came down, the local Council enforcement officer wrote to say that we did not have Listed Building Consent for the aerial ! This despite the facts that :-
o it has been there for years;
o it has NEVER been mentioned before;
o our house was re-built around 1915 (cavity walls, etc.) whereas the next three house, all thatched, all circa 1700, all Listed, all with Sky aerials, none of which has LBC; but those owners did not get that letter; and
o it is a "temporary" fitting !
We firmly believe that this victimisation is a direct result of our complaints about and to the Council for the un-necessary hoops they have been making us jump through.
