PERCH School in east Honiara has been ordered to demolish a building it is currently constructing for its library.
This was because the school failed to get approval from the Honiara City Council.
The Town and Country Planning Board served the school with the notice to demolish the property on February 8.
“The development of the building appears to get no required approvals,” the notice read.
“The Honiara Town and Country Planning Board formally requests that you immediately stop work on the construction of the library and demolish what has been built of the library building,” it added.
“It is also requested that you complete plans to relocate the library building in accordance with the Honiara Local Planning Scheme, so it no longer encroaches into the road reserve or any other property.
“These plans should be submitted immediately to the Town and Country Planning Board for consideration under the Town and Country Planning Act,” it stated.
The notice explained that the proposed library building was being built within reserved land for road and is not for education.
“It is therefore not being undertaken in accordance with the Honiara Local Planning Scheme and is unacceptable.”
But Perch school Assistant Director Jeffery Lensly insisted they’ve done nothing wrong.
“We have all the necessary legal documents of ownership to the purported land,” he said.
He also claimed Perch school got the approval of the city council for its architectural plan to build a library building at the school including the fence that they had already constructed.
“The school had fully complied with meeting building permit and inspection fees.”
Tongs employee, John Kwaita said what Tongs had done was nothing from their own wish, but what was stated according to the ordinances and laws of this country.
“It is people like the Perch School Director Mrs Lydia Yeo and her assistant director, Jeffery Lensly that need to be reminded and redirect themselves,” Mr Kwaita said.
“Stop playing around with the laws and ordinances over the land argued. It is also worth noting that you two must stop using innocent children as human shields to protect your own interest.”
By BRADFORD THEONOMI