Ghostbusters!

One of our rangers used to get a lot of calls from an elderly resident. The complaints were many and varied, but brought down to their core originated from a firm belief that there were demons living under her house.

Yes, demons. She was quite adamant about this. It got to the point where said ranger took himself off to the hardware store, bought a face mask and a white suit, which he accessorised with a weed spraying container, the ones that have a hose and nozzle. He then proceeded to the residents house, performed a demon exorcism and left the resident a happy woman.

She never called him again.

The Water tank is Ruining my View

Neighbour phones up in tears the other day, to a colleague of mine. The water tank they're putting in next door, it's HUGE, she sobs hysterically. I'll be confronted by it every time I open my front door! You have to do something!!!

Said water tank rises approximately 200 mm above the dividing fence. Moreover, it's classified as exempt development, so they don't even have to go near Council to put it, or another one in.

STFU neighbour.

Childcare

So there was this DA lodged today. Applicant wanted to change from family daycare with 6 kids to centre based care with 12 kids. She seemed to think that a half page of basic details coupled with a plan of an unidentified bathroom proposed to be fitted with child sized toilets would be sufficient, despite the fact that she had talked to community services who told her what was required, which was the 99% of the information she'd left out.

Eventually our assistant planner discovered that she'd got development consent for an extension and earnestly advised her to wait until she had completed those works before she relodged.

He's quick on the uptake. I like that in a colleague.

From the History Books

Just to get things started, here are a small selection of funny reponses I have received over the years.

Some point in the 1990s - a Co Wicklow Councillor "People are making allegations, and I want to know who the allegators are".

Another Wicklow Councillor "It's all very well talking about gondolas on the Blessington Lakes, but tell me this now - who's going to feed them? Who is going to feed the gondolas?" (This last quote was turned into a satirical TV show entitled "Don't feed the Gondolas".

2003 - From a Councillor, in support of an applicant who wishes to build a two storey house in an area where they are not normally permitted "This family require a two storey house as they are very tall people"

2009 - From an objector, in relation to a house nearby that the 50mm increase in eaves height would be significant and negative.

2011 - From an objector regarding glazing in a dwelling below: this will impact my views at night.