Couple wins battle to keep their eccentric garden gnome paradise
A couple in Lancashire can keep their whimsical garden decorations after winning retrospective planning permission. Adina and Sorin Bănatéan faced objections from neighbours over their collection of gnomes, a fake well, and other ornaments. The council ultimately ruled in their favour, allowing the display to stay.
The Bănatėans transformed their front garden into a colourful spectacle, featuring over 30 garden gnomes, an ornamental well, two pergolas, and a large bird feeder shaped like a Swiss cuckoo clock. Neighbours were less enchanted, with eight residents submitting complaints to the council. Some described the scene as 'not pleasant to view' and compared it to a 'Mad Hatter’s Tea Party'. Others raised concerns about traffic safety, bright lights, and the potential for vermin.
The retrospective planning permission means the garden’s decorations will remain in place. The council’s decision followed a review of neighbour concerns and a recommendation from the planning officer. The couple can now continue enjoying their garden as it stands.
