THE teacher who made headlines around the world after building a cyborg structure outside his sci-fi museum in Allendale has been granted a reprieve.

Neil Cole has been embroiled in a planning row over the “Dalek enclosure” at his Museum of Classic Sci-Fi, which he founded last October in the cellar of his Grade II-listed, Georgian townhouse.

The shed, housing a home-made replica of the Doctor Who arch-villain, was determined to not fit the character of the property or the village by Northumberland County Council planning officers.

But Mr Cole said removing the shed would leave the Dalek homeless, and threaten the future of the museum. It prompted a “Save our Dalek” campaign which quickly attracted international support.

However, on Tuesday, public pressure won out when councillors who are members of Tynedale Local Area Council opted to defy the official recommendation and vote to allow the shed on a temporary basis for a year.

While this perhaps stops short of the result Mr Cole would have liked, the decision has to be viewed as a victory for common sense.

For councillors, many of whom were no doubt inundated with representations from local residents who were shocked at the stance the planners had taken, have given us all a little bit of hope – that the man on the street holds a little bit of sway when he is working to benefit his community.

In just 10 months, the attraction opened by Mr Cole and his wife Lisa, has brought more than 2,000 visitors to a rural community where cafes, pubs, shops and other businesses will have certainly benefited from the increased footfall.

Mr Cole teamed up with members of an after-school club to build the Dalek and the museum features props, costumes and artwork, from TV and science fiction films. Surely this is the type of enterprise all local councils should be supporting?