Ayr neighbours take great of-fence

Oct 31 2008 by Edwin Lawrence

A MILLIONAIRE has put up an illegal fence at the side of his Ayr mansion.

And people who live in three adjoining properties are furious at what they see as Charles Thomson’s arrogance.

They also fear South Ayrshire Council will do nothing to make Mr Thomson take it down.

The chief executive of Equitable Life owns Morrison House at 2 Racecourse View.

And last December he had an eight-foot high fence erected at the side of his property.

It’s neatly finished on his own side, complete with thatched-style screening.

“But it’s like a prison compound on our side,” said Margaret Hossack, of Middleton Cottage.

There’s still a massive ditch, where Mr Thomson has failed to reinstate tarmac.

And vegetation and earth dug out has been dumped on the cottage side of the fence.

“It’s an absolute mess,” said Ms Hossack.

“Mr Thomson has previously left old baths and toilets outside my front door.

“He seems to think that because he doesn’t live here permanently, he can get away with acting with total disrespect towards his neighbours.”

Ms Hossack isn’t too optimistic about South Ayrshire Council taking enforcement action, despite the council saying they are considering it.

Ms Hossack said: “What is the point of planning regulations if they cannot be enforced?

“The message seems to be – don’t bother getting planning permission.

“Just do what you want and it is likely you will get away with it.

“These buildings are listed which makes it all the more incredible.”

Mr Thomson, 60, paid a reported £1 million for Morrison House in 2004.

It was bought as a home for himself and his former secretary Verity Coutts, with whom he had a baby in the summer of 2004.

He left Pamela, his wife of 33 years for Miss Coutts, now 32.

Mr Thomson also came under press scrutiny in a four-year failed pursuit of 15 former directors of Equitable Life, which racked up an astounding £45 million legal bill.

And during court proceedings it emerged he wrote his own glowing reference to gain his job at Equitable Life in 2001.

A spokesman for Mr Thomson said: “He wasn’t aware there was a problem for Ms Hossack.

“Due to past issues, he doesn’t intrude on her side of the fence, even though he owns the grounds. He is not a vindictive man and is acutely conscious of not trying to escalate matters.”

The spokesman pointed out: “Mr Thomson had planning permission for a wall with an element of fencing.

“But the wall units weren’t delivered, and he decided to proceed with an all-wooden fence, due to security concerns.

“Tyres were slashed on cars at a festive party Mr Thomson hosted last year, and that’s what prompted him to complete the fence.”

“He is now seeking retrospective planning permission for the fence.”