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Local Architect dubbed 'Sarkytect' achieves cult status

A sarcastic architect from Wells has earned a national cult following his withering comments to planners.

John Jessop's hilarious replies to a series of what he termed "silly questions" from Mendip District Council were published on the Council's website

After being asked to fill in a "design access statement" for a storage shed on a small farm, he wrote: "The use is compatible with a farm because it is a farm building.  It is located where it is because it is in the most convenient place, being on the farm and near the farmhouse."

Under "scale, appearance and landscaping", Mr Jessop wrote: "The building is a single storey with the central section raised to allow for higher equipment.  It cannot be lower because nothing could be stored in it. It is not made any higher because that would be silly."

Mr Jessop's reply to the "access" section reads: "There is an airport at Bristol which can be accessed by driving your tractor along the road.  This gives direct access to warm sunny places all over the world. There is a bus service to North Wooton which allows people from the local towns to come and visit the proposed shed."

Mr Jessop, of Carlisle Jessop Architects in Wells, Somerset, said: "The response I've had since has been incredible, architects from as far as Scotland, Wales, Birmingham and Manchester have contacted me to say 'good on you!' and 'nice one' ".

A Mendip council spokesman said: "There was no problem registering the statement because, believe it or not, it covered all the relevant criteria.  As long as the architect answers all the relevant headings then it doesn't really matter what the tone of the application is."