Bell’s Plumbers Shop saga no closer to a conclusion, says Environment Minister David Speirs

The first person convicted of neglecting a State Heritage-listed building has dropped his appeal against a $26,800 fine but the future of the decaying property still remains unclear.

• Court orders Philip March to repair shop
• Mr March to stand trial over heritage neglect
• The former racing car driver is found guilty
• He is convicted and fined in a landmark ruling
• He fails to pay the fine

The first person convicted of neglecting a State Heritage-listed building has dropped his appeal against a $26,000 fine but the future of the decaying property remains unclear.

Environment Minister David Speirs said that a change of ownership of the derelict Bell’s Plumbers Shop — made during criminal proceedings against the previous owner of the College Park property — had left its future in doubt.

“It’s complicated because the ownership of the property has changed and the conviction was attached to the person, not the property,” he said.

He said the State Government was not looking at compulsory acquiring the property, though it was an option.

“I don’t want to make any specific commitments there,” Mr Speirs said.

“It’s something I’d have to take to Cabinet because it sets a particular precedent and obviously has a cost associated with it.”

The Bell’s Plumbers Shop on Payneham Rd, College Park, built for former premier John Colton in 1883, is in a worsening state of decay.

Norwood Payneham and St Peter’s Council wrote to Mr Speirs this year urging him to compulsorily acquire the building and restore it.

Former owner Philip Leslie March was convicted in the Environment Resources and Development Court in August last year of failing to repair the 135-year-old building on Payneham Rd.

The conviction came nearly eight years after former Labor minister Paul Caica issued the first heritage protection order, compelling Mr March to repair the building, built in 1883 by former premier John Colton.

In February 2012, Mr March transferred the property to Panamanian registered company Omega Exploration Pty Ltd, whose sole director is Jesse Samuel Tolley, in a move Judge Jack Costello ruled at the time was “clearly designed” for him to avoid complying with a heritage protection order.

The Courts Administration Authority has told The Advertiser that Mr March dropped his appeal against his conviction in June.

Philip Leslie March outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court in June this year when he was found guilty of driving while disqualified. Picture: AAP Image/Brenton Edwards

Mr Tolley’s father Mark Tolley said he had “no comment” to make when asked what his son’s intentions were for the property. When asked if he was just going to let the building sit there, he said: “Yes, indeed.”

The building has been vandalised and damaged, most recently by a deliberately lit fire last year. Mr Speirs said the Government would “probably” take ownership of the property if Mr Tolley wanted to hand it over, which he thought would be unlikely considering its land value.

Local Mayor Robert Bria said more incentives were required to help owners of heritage properties bring them up to standard.