COUNCIL bosses who told a woman she faced court over six chickens have admitted they will turn a blind eye to the birds for now.

Colchester Council issued Linda Daw-Baines with an enforcement notice to remove her feathered friends from land she owns in Bacons Lane, Chappel.

It threatened her with magistrates’ court action unless she removed the chickens. She had already complied with orders to remove unlawful timber shacks.

Mrs Daw-Baines’ planning agent Peter Le Grys warned if the council was successful, the ruling could set a legal precedent that all chickens in the countryside require planning permission.

However, the council has told the Gazette the issues appear to have been “resolved to a satisfactory point”.

Mrs Daw-Baines, 52, said: “I can’t believe Colchester Council. Why did they say they were taking me to court in the first place?

“My plans now are to make an appointment with the head of planning and have this out with them.

“I am so angry over the way they have harassed me. Now they are saying they have got bigger things to look at – why weren’t they doing that in the first place? I am livid.”

Mrs Daw-Baines previously said no-one has complained about the chickens.

Mr Le Grys added he contacted the council asking for an update on the matter on April 4 but had still not had a conclusive  response.

He added: “Due to the seriousness with which we have treated the council’s threat of legal proceedings, Mrs Daw-Baines has also requested this issue be considered as a matter of urgency by the council’s head of professional services.

“This request has not received a reply either. It is disappointing the council has not recognised its duties to members of the public and considered whether this case is really in the public interest. “ A council spokesperson said: “As the most harmful structures have now been removed, and there is little impact outside of the site itself, this has reduced the harm being caused considerably.

"The situation is being monitored and will remain under review if any new developments should take place.

“However, we have to consider what public interest there would be in any action we take, and, at the moment, the issues appear to have been resolved to a satisfactory point so we can turn our attentions to other breaches of planning control in the borough.”