Toll Bar Cottage, Alcester Prosecution

Nuneaton Magistrates Court has ordered Mr Paul Maddix and Mrs Hayley Maddix of Toll Bar Cottage, Haselor, Alcester to pay a total of £6705.06 (including court fine and full Council costs), after they both entered a guilty plea during a recent prosecution for failing to comply with an Enforcement Notice.

The Enforcement Notice related to land owned by Mr and Mrs Maddix in the Green Belt and a change of use of the land to mixed use. Initially 5 caravans (reduced to 3) were unlawfully sited on the land and being used for sleeping accommodation or additional living space.

The Court heard that the District Council had been very reasonable in dealing with the matter where non–compliance had taken place over a five year period and that compliance with the Notice was secured only after the court proceedings began.  

An Enforcement Notice is served to require the landowner to remedy the harm caused by the breach of planning control, and failure to comply with the notice is a criminal offence with unlimited fines.

Stratford District Council was awarded full costs of £5,955.06.