Wakefield Council orders removal of gorilla statue from house: owner challenges decision.

Owner fights to keep gorilla statue

According to The Sun: The homeowner is trying to keep the four-foot gorilla statue installed on the facade of her home after the council ordered it removed.

Adele Teale installed the rubber statue outside her two-bedroom house last year, but Wakefield Council stated that the statue 'caused harm to the green space' and requires planning permission.

“I love gorillas, I think they are amazing,” said homeowner Adele.

The 58-year-old woman claims the 4 kg statue, which cost £600, has become a favorite feature in her garden.

“I think he looks fantastic. The kids love coming to see Caesar,” she added.

The statue was placed on a wooden plinth between two upper windows of the house in December.

Adele received a letter from the local council on May 27, informing her of a complaint about the 'animal structure' on her property.

The woman does not understand why 'beautiful' Caesar has become a problem when he is securely fastened and can be removed, despite the council claiming the statue is 'structural'.

“I can put a Christmas tree there if I want. I own the house, it's mine, so I can probably have whatever I want outside for decoration,” she added.

The council cited the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, stating that Caesar might require planning permission.

Adele has reached out to the council several times to discuss the possibility of satisfying the delayed planning application, but she 'never received a response'.

Adele received a compliance notice on July 10, asserting that Caesar is a 'prominent, attractive structure that does not fit with the surrounding environment'.

The council claims that Caesar poses a threat to the green area and 'negatively impacts the landscape'.

Appeal and statue's popularity

Adele, who works in public transport at Leeds City Council, filed an appeal against the notice on August 11.

She argues that beloved Caesar is merely a garden ornament.

“I love gorillas, I think they are amazing, and Caesar makes me smile - he makes me happy,” she said.

Adele spotted Caesar in a pet shop in 2005, and it was an obvious choice: “he just stood out to me, I thought he was really beautiful.”

The statue had been on the exterior wall of Adele's previous home in Belle Isle, Leeds, for 15 years and never received any objections.

“I just don’t understand what the problem is now that we’ve moved here,” she added.

Caesar became even more significant to Adele after she paid £600 to buy him back from a woman to whom she had previously sold him.

“I was upset when I sold him, so two days later, I called the woman who bought him,” Adele noted.

Her campaign against the council gained popularity in the neighborhood, and she said that even refuse collectors shout 'save Caesar' as they pass by.

Adele emphasized that neighbors have no objections to Caesar, and he is popular among passersby who stop to admire him.

“I can’t understand what harm this is causing, and I don’t want to take him away - after all, he’s just an ornament,” she continued.

“We understand that not everyone will agree, but according to planning regulations, this is not a minor decorative feature,” said Joe Jenkinson, Wakefield Council's planning service director.

“It also does not fit with the surrounding environment, so it requires planning permission. Since an appeal has already been submitted, the notice is not in effect and will only take effect if the appeal is rejected.”

The situation with Caesar's statue has attracted the attention of neighbors and created an emotional resonance in the local community, underscoring the importance of personal creative expression in everyday life. At a time when local councils are trying to ensure aesthetics and preservation of areas, it is important to find a balance between legislative requirements and people's right to express their individuality.