Calfaria Chapel owner guilty in council prosecution
A CO-owner of Calfaria Chapel in Llanelli has been ordered to pay over £1,200 for failing to keep the Grade II Listed Building in a good condition.
Manos Mohan pleaded guilty at Llanelli Magistrates Court for an offence under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Carmarthenshire County Council brought the prosecution against him and joint owner Syed Ashraf, although proceedings against Mr Ashraf were later withdrawn.
Mohan and Mr Ashraf have owned Calfaria Chapel, in Ann Street, Llanelli, since 2016.
The council served two separate notices on the owners, under section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
The first, served in relation to the condition of the curtilage wall, was complied with and the wall rebuilt.
The second notice was in relation to the repair of the dilapidated building and the tidying of the land.
The owners were given six months to comply with all the steps required within the notice, which they didn’t do.
Carmarthenshire County Council then proceeded with legal action for non-compliance.
Magistrates ordered Mr Mohan to pay a fine of £400, with costs of £782.12 and a £40 victim surcharge.
A Section 215 Notice provides a local planning authority the power, in certain circumstances, to take steps requiring land to be cleaned up, including the repair of dilapidated buildings, when its condition adversely affects the surrounding area.
The notices set out the steps that need to be taken, and the time within which they must be carried out.
Cllr Philip Hughes, executive board member for enforcement, said: “Calfaria Chapel is located in a largely residential area of Llanelli, and neighbouring residents would have been affected by the poor condition of the grounds.
“Our officers encouraged the owners to take action for the benefit of the community but they didn’t so we had no option but to proceed to court. Whilst we’re pleased with the outcome we would have preferred that more consideration was given to the surrounding community without the need for enforcement
Perchennog Capel Calfaria yn euog mewn erlyniad
MAE un o gydberchnogion Capel Calfaria yn Llanelli wedi cael gorchymyn i dalu dros £1,200 am beidio â chadw’r Adeilad Rhestredig Gradd II mewn cyflwr da.
Plediodd Manos Mohan yn euog yn Llys Ynadon Llanelli i drosedd o dan Ddeddf Cynllunio Gwlad a Thref 1990.
Bu i Gyngor Sir Caerfyrddin ddwyn yr erlyniad yn ei erbyn ef a Syed Ashraf, sef y perchennog ar y cyd, er bod yr achos wedi ei dynnu’n ôl yn erbyn Mr Ashraf yn ddiweddarach.
Mae Mohan a Mr Ashraf wedi berchen ar Gapel Calfaria, yn Stryd Ann, Llanelli, ers 2016.
Cyflwynodd y Cyngor ddau rybudd ar wahân i’r perchnogion, o dan adran 215 o Ddeddf Cynllunio Gwlad a Thref 1990.
Cydymffurfiwyd â’r un cyntaf, a gafodd ei gyflwyno mewn perthynas â chyflwr y wal gwrtil, a chafodd y wal ei hailadeiladu.
Roedd yr ail rybudd mewn perthynas ag atgyweirio’r adeilad adfeiliedig a thacluso’r tir.
Rhoddwyd chwe mis i’r perchnogion gydymffurfio â’r holl gamau oedd eu hangen yn y rhybudd, ond ni wnaethant hyn.
Yna aeth Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin ati i ddwyn camau cyfreithiol am beidio â chydymffurfio â’r rhybudd.
Rhoddwyd gorchymyn gan y Llys Ynadon i Mr Mohan dalu dirwy o £400, a chostau o £782.12 a gordal dioddefwr o £40.
Mae Rhybudd Adran 215 yn rhoi pŵer i’r awdurdod cynllunio lleol, mewn rhai amgylchiadau, gymryd camau lle mae angen glanhau tir, gan gynnwys atgyweirio adeiladau adfeiliedig, pan fo cyflwr y tir yn effeithio’n andwyol ar yr ardal gyfagos.
Mae’r rhybuddion yn nodi’r camau y mae angen eu cymryd, ac o fewn yr amser y mae angen eu gweithredu.
Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Philip Hughes, yr Aelod o’r Bwrdd Gweithredol dros Orfodaeth: “Lleolir Capel Calfaria mewn ardal breswyl yn bennaf yn Llanelli, a byddai cyflwr gwael y tir wedi effeithio ar y cymdogion.
“Mae ein swyddogion yn annog perchnogion i weithredu er budd y gymuned, ond ni wnaethant hyn felly nid oedd dewis gennym ond mynd i’r llys. Er ein bod yn fodlon ar y canlyniad byddai’n well gennym petai rhagor o ystyriaeth wedi’i rhoi i’r gymuned gyfagos heb orfod gweithredu.”
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