Topaz fined

A PROPERTY company has been fined £4,000 for failing to put right unauthorised changes to Llanelli’s listed Parc Congregational Chapel.

Ammanford Magistrates Court was told that the chapel on the corner of Murray Street and Inkerman Street was listed as a building of special architectural and historic interest (Grade II) in 1992. It was built in Gothic style in 1864-5.

Following the removal of an internal ornate timber door surround without listed building consent, the county council served an Enforcement Notice on the owners in 2008 to reinstate the surround. The owners were prosecuted for failing to comply with the Enforcement Notice, and having been found guilty were fined £2,000 plus £1,075 costs by Carmarthen Magistrates in October 2009.

The council then extended the time limit for compliance with the Enforcement Notice but once again the owners failed to comply. There was a second prosecution and last week the owners Topaz Property Co. Ltd. were found guilty again and fined £4,000 for the offence under Section 43 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

They were also fined £250 under Section 16 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous) Act 1976 for failing to return a requisition of information on ownership. They were ordered to pay £297 costs.

Another company, Lordman Ltd. were fined £250 plus £279 costs under Section 60 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous) Act 1976 for failing to return a requisition of information on interest in the property.

Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for regeneration Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “Most owners of listed buildings served with an enforcement notice to rectify unauthorised works comply within the specified time period, but when owners refused to comply the authority has to consider court action.”

Head of planning Eifion Bowen said: “Owners of listed buildings are advised not to carry out any works to a listed building either externally or internally or to any curtilage structure before seeking advice from the Conservation Section and any necessary consents from the authority.”