A Warrington garage owner has been fined and ordered to remove an extension after ignoring planning rules.
Douglas Percival, 80, of Wayside Cottages, Stretton, pleaded guilty to the offence of not complying with an enforcement notice served upon him requiring the removal of an extension to his garage.
An extension was built at the rear of the Ring of Bells garage on Northwich Road, Stretton, without the necessary planning permission. Due to its inconsistent materials it was the subject of an enforcement investigation by the Council, and after numerous requests to remove the extension, an enforcement notice was served.
After the failure to comply with the notice, Mr Percival advised the Council that building works had now stopped and the structure was only temporary. The extension was not removed however leading to the eventual taking of court action by the Council.
Mr Percival pleaded guilty to the charge at Warrington Magistrates Court on 7 May 2025. He was fined £450 which was reduced to £300 because of his prompt guilty plea, £120 victim surcharge and £1183 costs, totalling £1603.
He advised that he had been misadvised about the construction, and it will now be removed as required by the enforcement notice.
Cllr John Kerr-Brown, cabinet member for environment and public protection said, “The challenges that business owners face are recognised, as is the contribution that local businesses make to the local economy. However, it is equally important to protect the environment and ensure that development is sympathetic to its setting and accords with the council’s development plan policies.
“When a business fails to cooperate with the council on these important issues, it is a difficult but necessary action to take the matter to court in order to remedy the situation”.
“I’m hopeful that the business will now do the right thing and remove the extension and if it is the intention to replace it to proceed through the recognised channels and obtain planning permission for something more suitable”.
3 Comments
Shame the council are not consistent in there dissistions. Many structures are erected and the turn a blind eye . It seems to me it depends who you are and if particularly councilors like you or weather a brown envelope is handed over . The councilors are like little Hillers who a more guilty of distroying the environment then a small established business trying to improve
I think you may be sued for libel.
I think you risk being sued for libel.