THE owner of a Museum of Science Fiction in Allendale has launched a campaign to ‘Save Our Dalek’, after Northumberland County Council issued him with a notice ordering him to remove a shed from his drive, which houses a full-size replica of Doctor Who’s arch enemy.

The council has taken action against owner of the museum, Neil Cole, after it received a complaint from a local parish councillor about the shed, which was built without planning permission in a conservation area outside Neil’s Grade II listed townhouse.

Neil, who has been told to remove the Dalek by February 5, said: “In only a few months, the museum has brought great revenue to the town, with more than 900 visitors already. It adds a bit of magic into the area, and it would be a giant loss to the town to see that taken away.

“A small minority of the parish council have always opposed the museum, and this complaint is the latest in a string of attempts to get the attraction closed, or dampen its popularity. The shed was purpose-built to remain inoffensive and discreet, and not detract from the character of the historic house.”

Chairman of Allendale Parish Council, David Crellin, said that Mr Cole had the backing and support of the council, but said one parish councillor had raised concerns about the Dalek shed after complaints from a town resident, and had passed the complaint on to the county council.

“The parish council has supported the museum from its early days of development and continues to do so,” said Coun. Crellin.

“If there is anything we can do to influence the planning decision, be assured we will do so. But it is unlikely that we will be able to overrule the decision of a planning officer carrying out their work in their area of expertise.”

A county council spokesman said: “This construction outside a listed property in Allendale has been brought to our attention and we are in the early stages of investigating it.

"We wish to work with the property owner to resolve this, and we have written to him to advise that this would require planning permission and due to the listed status of the property an application is unlikely to be supported.”

The museum has also received huge support from local villagers as well as Hexham’s MP Guy Opperman who has written to the planning department, asking them to try and find a way forward through a compromise.