Stamps Fined

THE owner of a Llanelli bar has been fined £2,000 for failing to comply with an enforcement notice to rectify unauthorised works at the listed building.

Douglas Andrew Lewis pleaded guilty at Llanelli Magistrates Court to the offence under Section 43 Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.

The court was told that on February 3, 2010, Lewis pleaded guilty to carrying out unauthorised works to a Grade II listed building, Stamps, the former Post Office in Station Road, Llanelli, and was fined £3,600 and ordered to pay £2,000 costs.

The work involved construction of a rear extension, erection of a external galvanised steel staircase, erection of a new canopy within the rear yard, replacement of timber sliding sash windows with casement uPVC windows, cutting off the lower part of double panelled gates, construction of timber decking, and an accumulation of lighting, signage and aerials to the external elevation of the building.

On May 4, 2010, the council served an enforcement notice on Lewis under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, Section 38. The enforcement notice required him to carry out works which would rectify the unauthorised works, restoring the building to its former state. He was given six months, until December 4, 2010, to comply with the enforcement notice but failed to do so.

Lewis, of Lewitha Villa, Swansea Road, Fforestfach, was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £269.88.

Executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “Whilst the county council looks at prosecutions as a last resort, this case should serve as a warning to anyone involved with listed buildings to obey an enforcement notice to rectify unauthorised works. The owner will now have to rectify the unauthorised works at his own expense.”

The council’s head of planning Eifion Bowen said that his Conservation Section is there to advise owners of listed buildings or any proposed alterations they wish to carry out, and guidelines as to whether they would be appropriate and what consent is required prior to them taking place.