Man jailed for refusing to knock down houses he built on 'God's land' accused of wasting court time

A man who was jailed after refusing to knock down buildings built unlawfully on "God s land" has been criticised for wasting council and court time. Michael Merrill, of Wirswall, Cheshire, had been embroiled in a planning dispute with Cheshire East Council for over a decade. The 53 year old was first served with an enforcement notice by the local authority in 2014 over the unauthorised homes, including one for his family and a second for his in laws. He had also constructed other buildings all