'Why should I remove my gorilla? It's not hurting anyone'

A woman has been ordered to remove a 4ft (1.2m) gorilla statue from the front of her house in Wakefield or face a fine.

Adele Teale bought the figure, which she affectionately named Caesar, more than 20 years ago and proudly displayed him at her previous home in Leeds for 15 years.

After moving to Lee Moor Lane in Stanley, she mounted him on a wooden platform on the front of her terraced house at the end of 2024.

But Wakefield Council informed the homeowner a complaint had been made about the ape and advised her to remove him as she had not obtained planning permission. She lodged an appeal, but on Tuesday was told this had been dismissed and Caesar must fall.

On 10 July last year, an enforcement notice was issued by the authority to remove Caesar.

"I lived in Belle Isle and I had him on my property for about 15 years and never had any trouble, everybody used him as a landmark," Teale explained.

"Six years ago, I moved up here to Stanley but I sold him when I moved because I didn't have anywhere for him, it's a smaller garden."

The homeowner admitted she soon missed Caesar, and rang up the new owner to buy him back.

Teale then received the first letter from the council, advising her the gorilla was not in keeping with the area and caused harm to the greenbelt.

She said: "I could take him down, put him somewhere else, but why should I?

"It's not hurting anyone, it's not going to fall, it's bolted down.

"I just don't get it when people have mucky mattresses, fridges and everything in their gardens."

The homeowner appealed against the notice, which kickstarted a process with the Planning Inspectorate.

However, on Tuesday an inspector decided the appeal should be dismissed and the gorilla should be removed.

Mark Ollerenshaw, after taking into account the size and permanence of the structure, said: "I conclude that the statue and supporting structure require planning permission.

"No such planning permission has been obtained for the development which therefore constitutes a breach of planning control."

Teale has until 9 June to remove Caesar and his platform from her house or risk being taken to court.

Ignoring an enforcement notice is a criminal offence and could carry a fine of up to £20,000 in a magistrates' court.

"I know that it's not everybody's cup of tea, I like that it's a bit quirky and I don't know anyone else that's got a gorilla attached to their house, other than the bloke with a 25ft shark in his roof," she said.

"If I have to move him, I will move him and put him in a better spot."

Joe Jenkinson, Wakefield Council's service director for planning, transportation and strategic highways, said: "We have to investigate all complaints and we appreciate that not everyone will agree, but under planning rules this required planning permission.

"The Planning Inspectorate is completely independent of the council, and having looked at it impartially, have dismissed the owner's appeal and upheld the enforcement notice.

"This means the gorilla statue will need to be removed from its current site within four weeks. No-one is asking her to get rid of Caesar. It just can't go there."

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