A LLANDYBIE man has called on Carmarthenshire council chiefs to make up their mind over whether they are going to prosecute him for carrying out what they claim was “unauthorised” work on an old mill in the village.

Nigel Humphreys says the council has made his life hell since he carried out work on the mill at Felin Wen in Penpound Lane.

But the council says because the building is listed, Mr Humphreys needed to notify them before any work has been done.

And despite the 64-year-old builder’s insistence a structural engineer had told him to carry out the work immediately as it was a serious safety hazard, the council is still considering legal action.

Mr Humphreys said even though the work was carried out more than ten months ago, the council has still not decided whether to prosecute him.

“It’s absolutely ludicrous that they still haven’t made their mind up yet,” he said.

“CADW decides on listed building consent in 28 days but we’re still waiting ten months on to see if Carmarthenshire council is going to prosecute me for carrying out essential work.”

Mr Humphreys, who thought he would be able to enjoy his retirement at the site, said the whole affair could have been avoided had the county council fulfilled its duties.

“They have a legal obligation to ensure listed buildings aren’t left to ruin, but they seem to have simply abandoned it,” he said.

“They have taken ten months away from me and at my age, that is a long time.

“One year you might be able to lift a heavy stone, the next you won’t be able to move it,” he said.

Mr Humphreys is set to take his fight on to the nation’s TV screens tonight when he appears on The Ferret on ITV and he has warned Carmarthenshire council it will prosecute him at its peril.

“I’d love to go to court because then I can stand up and show everybody how inefficient the council is at dealing with listed buildings,” he said.

Carmarthenshire County Council head of planning Eifion Bowen said: “We cannot comment as we are contemplating legal action.”