Post by CarolinaCutie on Jul 4, 2003 20:35:38 GMT -4
Couple Puts Son in Pigeon Coop
LONDON - When Glen and Melissa Brown's home got too crowded, their son flew the coop — er, to the coop.
They fitted their pigeon loft as a bedroom for their son, complete with bed, TV, video and DVD player.
On Friday, the couple refused a request by local officials to pull down the loft, a wooden structure which was built without permission and which social workers say is unsafe for a child.
Officials were alarmed to discover that 12-year-old Glen Jr. has been living in the loft for the past two years. Glen's stepbrother Xyron, also 12, had been living in a smaller shed adjoining the loft behind the Browns' public housing in Blyth, northeast England, but has now been persuaded by social workers to move back into the house.
Blyth Valley Housing, which operates public housing in the town, is adamant that the unauthorized 27-foot (9-meter) by 7-foot (2-meter) pigeon loft has to come down, but the Browns — who also have two daughters Carlene, 9, and Zoi, 2 — say they need it because their house is overcrowded.
Brown said Friday that council officials are the only ones to complain.
"The neighbors think it's great and nobody has ever complained about it," he said. "The neighbors are disgusted (with the council) because the kids weren't doing any harm."
But Ian Conway, chief housing officer for Blyth Valley Housing, said the loft must go.
"We are quite happy to offer them suitable accommodation within the immediate vicinity but they are quite happy living where they are and don't want to move and the kids are happy living in the sheds."
Well, although I complained for the first 16 years of my life about havin' to share a bedroom with my sister until we moved to a larger house when my brother was born, I'm glad my parents didn't make me or my sister share the doghouse with our beloved pooch.
Some people juss don't have a clue as seen in this particular case...a pigeon coop?!!! ::SMH::
LONDON - When Glen and Melissa Brown's home got too crowded, their son flew the coop — er, to the coop.
They fitted their pigeon loft as a bedroom for their son, complete with bed, TV, video and DVD player.
On Friday, the couple refused a request by local officials to pull down the loft, a wooden structure which was built without permission and which social workers say is unsafe for a child.
Officials were alarmed to discover that 12-year-old Glen Jr. has been living in the loft for the past two years. Glen's stepbrother Xyron, also 12, had been living in a smaller shed adjoining the loft behind the Browns' public housing in Blyth, northeast England, but has now been persuaded by social workers to move back into the house.
Blyth Valley Housing, which operates public housing in the town, is adamant that the unauthorized 27-foot (9-meter) by 7-foot (2-meter) pigeon loft has to come down, but the Browns — who also have two daughters Carlene, 9, and Zoi, 2 — say they need it because their house is overcrowded.
Brown said Friday that council officials are the only ones to complain.
"The neighbors think it's great and nobody has ever complained about it," he said. "The neighbors are disgusted (with the council) because the kids weren't doing any harm."
But Ian Conway, chief housing officer for Blyth Valley Housing, said the loft must go.
"We are quite happy to offer them suitable accommodation within the immediate vicinity but they are quite happy living where they are and don't want to move and the kids are happy living in the sheds."
Well, although I complained for the first 16 years of my life about havin' to share a bedroom with my sister until we moved to a larger house when my brother was born, I'm glad my parents didn't make me or my sister share the doghouse with our beloved pooch.
Some people juss don't have a clue as seen in this particular case...a pigeon coop?!!! ::SMH::
