Retford land owner hit with court fine

Simon David Gartside of Burntley’s Road, Hayton, Retford was fined £200 and ordered to pay costs of £700 to Bassetlaw Council after failing to gain planning permission for a temporary building placed on his land, which was deemed to be detrimental to the character and appearance of the open countryside.

During a period of correspondence between the council’s planning enforcement officer and Gartside that stretches back to March 2009, and the issuing of planning enforcement notice in November 2010, Gartside had previously refused to remove the temporary building until prior to the hearing.

Gartside was find at Worksop Magistrates’ Court on 24th October.

Councillor David Pressley, portfolio holder for community prosperity and chair of planning said: “Mr Gartside had been given many opportunities to remove this temporary building prior to the hearing and had failed to comply with the planning enforcement notice until this matter was brought to court.”

“We would like to make it clear to residents that wherever there is a breach of planning control the matter will be taken seriously and, in appropriate circumstances, prosecutions will be brought before the magistrate’s court.”