Councils crack down on dishes

Local authorities are cracking down on illegal dishes in conservation areas and on listed buildings.

Wotsat regular Roger Bunney has warned us of local authorities in southern England starting enforcement proceedings or even prosecuting for dishes placed on listed buildings or badly-placed in conservation areas.

Regulations introduced in 2006 eased restrictions for dishes in conservation areas, provided they're out of sight, but you still need official consent before fitting a satellite dish on a listed building.

One man in Breamore, Hampshire, was fined £150 plus £100 costs by local magistrates, after failing to fill in a form which called for information about an unauthorised satellite dish on a listed building.

Under planning regulations, listed buildings can only have a standard TV aerial without express permission from the local planning authority.

The form was just the beginning of an investigation by the New Forest District Council, which could yet lead to action to have the dish removed.

The Romsey Advertiser also reports that Test Valley Borough Council has been bringing enforcement proceedings against homeowners in the Romsey Conservation Area, Hampshire, who had fitted very visible satellite dishes.

Among other rules, in conservation areas you cannot fit a satellite dish onto a chimney, wall or roof slope which faces onto, can be seen from, a road.

Even so, there's very little that can justify this headline:

"Are you dish-honest?"