Hotel owner faces prosecution over sign

Aug 3 2007 By Catherine Lillington, Birmingham Mail

THE owner of a listed Midland hotel faces prosecution for putting up a no smoking sign on a wall - to comply with the new laws.

Tim Wedgwood said he couldn't believe it when Tamworth Borough Council wrote to him threatening prosecution over the sign which he put up on his Grade II Castle Hotel, in Ladybank.

Historical records of an inn on the site date back to the Domesday Book but a wall beneath the A5 sign was built as part of a recent refurbishment last November.

The 39-year-old, who has been running the hotel for three years, said he was only obeying changes in the law by getting the sign in the first place.

Tim, who plans to stand his ground with the council, said: "I had to put a no smoking sign up because of the new law. Ironically the wall this sign's been attached to has only been there since November, it's not a wall dating from the 1200s.

"I'm not going to be applying for permission for this at all - I really hope they do prosecute, it's bizarre."

None of the original Domesday inn remains and the main part of the hotel as it stands today was built in 1900.

The sign has gone up at the entrance to a Russian vodka bar called the Bow Street Runner.

A council spokeswoman said: "Any item that is attached to a listed building requires listed building consent and it is a criminal offence to carry out works without that necessary consent.

"With regard to the no smoking sign, whilst this requires consent Mr Wedgwood has been advised that it is likely to be deemed acceptable. He has been advised to submit a retrospective application for listed building consent."