A sci-fi enthusiast whose model Dalek angered planning officials is hoping councillors will “see sense” and let him keep the tourist attraction.

Art teacher Neil Cole was ordered to ‘exterminate’ the small wooden shed which houses a full-sized Doctor Who villain in January, when bureaucrats told him the structure contravened the grade-II listed status of his home.

After applying for retrospective planning permission for the shed, which helps advertise the small museum of science fiction memorabilia in the basement of his Northumberland home, Neil received around 150 comments in support of the shed , with one neighbour calling the museum “the best thing that ever happened to Allendale”.

The story of the row travelled around the world, making news articles as far away as Canada, as well as earning a mention on popular BBC panel show, Have I Got News For You.

The shed has received the support of the parish council, while a group of residents determined to save the ‘AllenDalek’ protested in the village with model Daleks of their own.

The scale of the response was so huge that Neil has now been told his application will be presented to councillors at Northumberland County Council’s planning committee, instead of being left in the hands of civil servants.

Neil says he hopes councillors will “look at the bigger picture”.

He said: “The museum brings people into Allendale: since October we’ve had 1,800 people in, most from out of the area. We’ve had people from Australia, people from Minnesota – they would never come to the village if it weren’t for the museum and the Dalek.

“The businesses in Allendale have all come and said they’ve noticed the difference in the tills.

“The planning team have absolutely not listened to all the public support we’ve had, they’ve absolutely overlooked the good to the community, and that’s what we’re going to be basing our argument on.

“There is no permanent damage to the structure, and we’re bringing a neglected heritage asset back into use for tourism, which the council says in the local plan it will support.”

Neil is set to present his case on August 14, but even if councillors say no, he plans to keep fighting, and will appeal any refusal.

The Dalek itself isn’t the subject of the planning row, but the Doctor Who-lover says without the shed to protect it, the model couldn’t stay outside and wouldn’t continue to draw in walkers and sightseers, whose photos of the structure have been seen across the world on social media.

A Northumberland County Council spokesperson said:  “The retrospective application for a temporary timber shed at Osborne House in Allendale is still under consideration.  It is scheduled to be reported to the August meeting of the Tynedale Local Area Committee.”