Unauthorised Garage

A St Clears man has been fined £200 for building a two storey garage and store without planning permission.

David Bryan Howells pleaded guilty at Carmarthen Magistrates Court to an offence contrary to Section 179 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.

Kelly Byrne, prosecuting, said that in August 2012, the county council, as local planning authority, issued an Enforcement Notice relating to land at Lodge, Bancyfelin, Carmarthen. It was served under Section 171A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and it alleged Mr Howells, who lives at Pwll Trap, St Clears, had, without planning permission, erected a two storey garage and store on his land at Lodge, Bancyfelin.

The Notice required Mr Howells to reduce the height of the garage and store to the same height as he could have built without needing planning permission, that is, single storey and therefore not an excessive height. The Notice alleged the building was harmful to the amenity of the countryside and contrary to the planning policies of the county council.

A period of three months in which to carry this out was specified, from the date the Notice came into effect, unless an appeal was made to the Planning Inspectorate.

No valid appeal was made. A reminder letter was sent but the building had not been altered when a visit to check for compliance was made in 2013. Therefore the county council had no alternative but to seek a prosecution in the Magistrates Court.

Mr Howells was fined £200 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £159.52 and a victim surcharge of £20.

Executive board member for enforcement Cllr Jim Jones said: “Unauthorised development that is unlikely to receive planning permission is harmful to the amenity of the countryside and when possible Carmarthenshire County Council will take the necessary action in the public interest.”