This is of personal interest to me - a friend lives practically opposite the new Evil Embassy.
NORTH Korea yesterday faced a foe probably more formidable than George Bush — the planning department of Ealing Council. The communist regime, dubbed part of the "axis of evil" by Dubya, chose the well-heeled West London suburb for the site of its first British embassy. But within hours of it opening, the council went to war. It ruled that North Korea's occupation of the £1.3million property — a four-bedroom 1950s style semi — breached planning regulations. The huge newly built porch is out of keeping with the calm, understated area, it said. And so, too, is the height of the new wall around the building. No front wall in the borough is allowed to be over 2.2 metres. The council has fired off a letter to the occupants demanding a meeting on Tuesday. A spokesman said: "As far as the authorities are concerned it's not an embassy because they haven't been granted planning permission to change the usage. This is not a political issue and we do not want a diplomatic incident. It is a bread and butter planning matter."
The clash came as Britain and North Korea discussed a rather important issue — the nuclear programme launched by the secretive regime's leader Kim Jong-il. Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell said talks yesterday with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Su Hon, had produced "progress of sorts". He said Choe had not confirmed that North Korea possessed nuclear weapons but was ready to dismantle its nuclear facilities and readmit inspectors in return for a guarantee that it would not be attacked. But Mr Rammell said the North Koreans need to go much further and make a clear commitment to disarm or face the threat of economic sanctions.
Back in the commuter belt of West London there was no sign of a peace road map as a solitary policeman stood guard outside the embassy. Ealing Council, which acted on a complaint from a neighbour, insisted: "We must take the residents' feelings into account. Whatever they do in the house, it must fit in." Rosalind Dennes, who lives nearby, said: "It's a very strange place to put an embassy."
Too right. It's miles from the centre of London and a cosy suburban home.
But she added cheerfully: "I suppose the police presence will mean no burglaries."
Wouldn't bank on it. I'd buy a padlock for the fridge/freezer PDQ if I were you. |