Working together gets results

Working together can help to iron out problems to everyone's satisfaction. That's the message from Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Planning Enforcement Team.  

In June this year, members of the public drew the District Council's attention to the repainted pink frontage of a Grade II listed Building in Rother Street. No application had been made for listed building consent for the repainting of the building and the District Council were concerned about the effect on its historic character.  

"This case recognises the importance of protecting the character and heritage of Stratford-upon-Avon and the importance of obtaining the relevant consents where necessary," said Cllr Stuart Beese, the District Council's Portfolio Holder for Planning.  

"Whilst the building had been repainted to reflect the charity that was being supported, such unauthorised changes to listed buildings are illegal and people undertaking them without consent risk legal action with significant penalties.  

"Nevertheless, in this particular case, the District Council worked with the owner and held off Enforcement action for the few short weeks that the shop remained open.  Everyone was happy when the building was vacated and the shopkeeper restored the building to its former glory."  

If you carry out work to a listed building without first obtaining consent, the penalties are heavy; an offender is liable to three months imprisonment, or a fine of £2,000, or both.  

In July 2006, the District Council formally required the building to be restored to the satisfaction of the conservation team. Following the intervention of the Planning Enforcement Team, the owner restored the building to the satisfaction of the District Council on 25th September 2006.