Flout Planning - Get Fined

Ignoring planning laws in south Warwickshire could land offenders in court with a big fine. That's the message from Stratford-on-Avon District Council after another successful prosecution this year by its planning enforcement team.

Magistrates recently fined a local farmer £18,000 for putting up unauthorised buildings in the countryside, while earlier this year a local building contracting firm was fined almost £10,000 for carrying out unauthorised works to a listed building.

"These cases recognises the importance of protecting the countryside from unauthorised development and the need to comply with planning rules," said Cllr Stuart Beese, the district council's portfolio holder for planning.

"People who break those rules and threaten the character of the district risk legal action and significant penalties.

"Communities sometimes accuse us of not doing enough to enforce those rules, so I hope this will demonstrate that the council does indeed have teeth and will bite when we have to."

Non compliance with an enforcement notice is an offence, which because of it's seriousness is punishable by a fine of up to £20,000.