Redruth man ordered to move torpedoes from his garden (From Falmouth Packet)

Redruth man ordered to move torpedoes from his garden

12:36pm Tuesday 9th March 2010

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A REDRUTH man has been ordered to move two torpedoes from his garden, despite them being certified safe by a bomb squad.

Steven Richards, a tenant with Coastline Housing who has lived in Murdoch Close for 23 years, was given the two ten-foot torpedoes by his father Edward last year to make into a garden bench.

Last Thursday, after a call from Coastline Housing, the Royal Navy bomb squad from Plymouth visited the house to x-ray the torpedoes and found them to be safe.

However enforcement officers from Coastline Housing have ordered him to remove them by Thursday.

Mr Richards told the Packet: “I explained they have never been explosively charged, they are just a metal case. I was going to turn them into a cast iron bench for my garden but they won’t allow that, they said people would be scared.”

He said that he did not know whether to remove them or leave them in the garden despite the landlord’s order.

“Why should I remove them?” he said. “They are only a metal case to be a chair. The neighbours know they are safe and I have a certificate to prove so.”

He added that he considered their action an infringement of his civil rights.

“If I have anything that looks like a torpedo but it’s not, what is the problem with me sitting on it in my garden? They are using bully tactics to remove something that everybody likes.”

Mr Richards was given the torpedoes by his father, who lives at Carharrack and had owned them for 15 years after they were given to him as a present for his work in submarine surveillance.

Mr Richards senior said: “I believe that the job of an enforcement officer requires flexibility and good communication skills and do believe perhaps Coastline Housing may be found a little wanting.”

Louise Beard, director of housing and support from Coastline Housing said that regardless of whether they were safe or not, Mr Richards having the torpedoes was a breach of his tenancy.

“We have asked him to remove them. We have offered to assist with the move and have agreed a reasonable time period.”

She said that the size of the torpedoes was a factor in making the decision.

“They are enormous, it took 15 people to lift just one of the torpedoes.”

She added that the torpedoes could be distressing to neighbours who had gone through war.

“It can’t be easy for other people.”

Ms Beard said that if the torpedoes were not removed within a week of the order then they would take action but did not give further details.

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