Stamps owner fined

THE owner of Stamps in Llanelli has been fined £4,000 for carrying out unauthorised works at the listed building.

Douglas Lewis, of Lewitha Villa, Swansea Road, Fforestfach, Swansea, pleaded guilty at Carmarthen Magistrates Court to an offence contrary to the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.

The unauthorised works at Stamps are the construction of a rear extension, erection of a galvanised internal staircase, erection of an external galvanised staircase and gate; the removal of four sash windows and there replacement with UPVC windows; reducing the height of the side gate by cutting the bottom off it; the addition of numerous external lights; the removal of a former canopy and its replacement with a new canopy; construction of timber decking; erection of floodlights; erection of advertisement signs; erection of security cameras; erection of flower baskets; erection of television aerial, insertion of two vents into top floor windows and installation of a burglar alarm.

The court heard that on February 1, 2010 Mr Lewis pleaded guilty to an allegation contrary to Section 7 of the Planning (Listed buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 for carrying out unauthorised works to Stamps which is a Grade II listed building. He was fined £3,600 and ordered to pay £2,000 costs

On May 4 of the same year a listed building enforcement notice was served in respect of the unauthorised works, with a compliance period of six months.

Then on August 22, 2011, a listed building enforcement notice was served in respect of the unauthorised works, with a compliance period of six months. Mr Lewis was given a further three months to comply with the enforcement notice in full.

Last week Mr Lewis was fined £4,000, with victim surcharge of £120 and prosecution costs of £329. He has been given a further three months to comply with the enforcement notice in full.

Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for enforcement Cllr Jim Jones said: “The situation will be monitored after the three months period and, if required, further action will follow. The local authority takes its responsibilities in terms of listed buildings very seriously.”