Council launches probe into security fencing erected outside Russell Brand’s village pub that was put up without planning permission in wake of sex assault and rape allegations

Russell Model has been hit with one other investigation after sealing off his village pub with safety fencing in breach of planning laws.

South Oxfordshire District Council slammed the under-fire comedian’s ‘unauthorised fencing’ after he put up the hessian-coated obstacles in entrance of the Grade II listed pub on Sunday morning.

They usually confirmed {that a} planning enforcement investigation is at the moment in progress towards Model, 48.

The afternoon earlier than accusations printed in The Sunday Instances and on Channel 4’s Dispatches noticed a number of ladies accusing him of abusive and predatory behaviour, together with rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse, between 2006 and 2013.

He has vehemently denied the allegations – however the BBC, Channel 4 and manufacturing agency Banijay have launched investigations into his behaviour, whereas the Met Police says it’s investigating a grievance obtained on the weekend.

Planning permission is required in the event you want to erect a brand new fence whether it is subsequent to a freeway utilized by autos and exceeds one metre in top or if a part of the location is throughout the curtilage of a listed constructing.

And the council have confirmed that they haven’t but obtained a planning software for the fencing.

A spokesperson advised MailOnline: ‘Permission is required for the fencing that has been erected at The Crown Inn, Pishill. 

‘We’ve got an open planning enforcement investigation which incorporates the unauthorised fencing. 

‘In accordance with our Planning Enforcement Assertion, we can’t present any additional info at this stage of our investigation.’

Oxfordshire-based planning marketing consultant Mark Doodes says that council officers will at the moment be requesting addition info from Model to get an understanding of why and when the fence was erected.

And he says the construction is unlikely to be permitted due to the pub’s historic nature.

He stated: ‘On this case, the general public home is a Grade II listed constructing. Consequently, the technique of enclosure is unlikely to be permitted below the Normal Permitted Improvement Order as it will doubtless contain Improvement throughout the curtilage of a listed constructing.

‘As technique of enclosure are sometimes comparatively restricted in scale, and given the complexities of the GPDO, this will have been a straightforward oversight by Mr. Model. 

‘If the fence has broken any historic material, similar to by connecting it to the Pub itself unsympathetically, it could possibly be seen as a felony offence.’

The Fifteenth century former teaching inn features a pub backyard, outside seating space, automotive park, indifferent barn, steady constructing, two-bed cottage and storage. 

To justify the fence Model now wants to indicate that it was wanted within the first place or submit a full planning permission.

And if he doesn’t do that he could possibly be prosecuted with a limiteless tremendous if the case is escalated to a Crown Courtroom. 

Mr Doodes, of Mark Doodes Planning, added: ‘It will likely be for Mr. Model to reveal to the Council why the fence is fairly required on a short lived foundation and present that the related permitted growth proper was genuinely applied.

‘Alternatively, a full planning software together with plans and professional statements, will have to be submitted to regularise any breach of planning management. 

‘The Council might approve this submission, which might then be the tip of the matter. Nonetheless, ought to it refuse this scheme, Mr. Model would once more retain the precise to enchantment to the Planning Inspectorate. 

‘I counsel that recommendation is sought from a certified skilled sooner somewhat than later.

‘Ought to Mr. Model fail to acquire planning permission (or fail to regularise the breach in one other method) and an enforcement discover be served by SODC and stay in power, he could have a set variety of days to regularise any planning breach, via its elimination. 

‘This could possibly be as little as a matter of weeks. If this isn’t complied with, the Council might start prosecution. All offences prosecuted are heard initially within the Magistrates’ Courtroom, the place fines could also be imposed of as much as £20,000. 

‘If the case progresses to the Crown Courtroom, the tremendous could also be limitless.’

The final time Model utilized for planning permission for the pub was in 2022 – when he appealed to alter the usage of the storage to a recording studio.

The applying – submitted by Pablo Diablo’s Legit Enterprise Agency, of which he’s sole director – was withdrawn within the November of the identical yr.

The property consultants who aided Model with this software have confirmed they aren’t engaged on any tasks for the Crown Inn.

The applying said that the pub would stay briefly closed ‘while plans to refurbish the constructing and formulate the character of the brand new institution are put in place.

‘The intention is to re-open the general public home sooner or later.’

Whereas ready for it to be re-opened they added that the pub can be: ‘occupied partly by workers engaged on a contract foundation for the applicant.’

They added: ‘The applicant is below excessive time strain to start out work as a result of scheduled launch of a brand new present on twenty fifth September that will likely be recorded within the proposed studio.’

Model launched his each day present Keep Free with Russell Model on September 28, 2022 – simply three days after it was stated the recording studio can be wanted by.

Model’s pub got here below fireplace shortly after he purchased it as rumours unfold that he deliberate to show it right into a vegan diner.

The teetotal comedian angered locals – though these claims have been refuted by the council.

‘We’ve heard he’s planning to show the pub right into a vegan restaurant. Why would anyone need that?’ one native advised The Solar.

‘He clearly by no means had any intention of utilizing the pub as a pub.

‘He doesn’t even drink alcohol. Why purchase a pub in the event you don’t like drink?’

It comes because the Metropolitan Police has stated it should converse to the media shops following their investigation, however added that presently the power has ‘not obtained any stories in relation’ to the allegations of sexual assault detailed within the article or documentary.

Banijay UK, which produced Huge Brother’s EForum and Huge Brother’s Huge Mouth within the early 2000s, revealed it had additionally ‘launched an pressing investigation’ into the alleged behaviour of the 48-year-old comic who hosted the programmes between 2004 and 2006.

Former workers members who labored on the exhibits have claimed that Model bought them to ‘act like pimps’ by getting the numbers of girls within the viewers and passing notes to them from the presenter.