Ben Elton lays into council officials and their pesky planning laws!
Poor Ben Elton isn’t having a good week. First of all he insults the Royal Family on Australian TV and then he upsets the local authorities in Perth by apparently flouting planning permission laws.
Elton, who is married to Australian saxophonist Sophie Gare, decided to migrate to Australia with their three children earlier this month because of travel issues.
The comic is famous for his criticisms of the UK and to many, his move to Australia came as no surprise. However Mr Elton suggested that the move was due to the constant travelling back and forth from Australia to the UK and back. He is said to be tired of the 10,500 mile journeys and denies that he is migrating to Australia for good.
Elton bought a 2 story heritage-listed house in North Fremantle near Perth in Western Australia for a cool £1 million. But his decision to install energy-saving solar panels without applying for planning permission, made local council officials see red.
Because the house is deemed to have historical significance, any alteration needs to be approved by the council first. Elton failed to do this and the council initially ordered him to remove the panels or face a £30,000 fine.
Elton was furious when he found out and no doubt gave the council officials a glimpse of the snappy tirades that have made him famous. A source close to the Elton family said it was “bureaucracy gone beserk”.
Council officials finally relented and let him keep the solar panels so long as he removes them after 25 years in order to update them with the latest technological advancement.
Earlier in the week Elton found himself in hot water when he branded Prince Philip a “mad old bigot” and described the Queen as a “sad little old lady” on the Australian satire show Good News Week. Elton, who has dual Australian and British citizenship, later declared his love for Britain and apologised for any offence caused.
Somehow I think Ben Elton will fit in just fine!
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