Homeowner fined £2000 for ‘untidy’ property

by emmadigirank on November 8, 2012

  • Sumo

Philip Gunwhy from Worcester has been fined £2000 by Worcester City Council after failing the upkeep of his property.

Neighbours of Mr Gunwhy began to make complaints as early as 2008, as the property began to look like a ‘building site.’ The property’s windows had been boarded up, large sections of the house’s rendering was missing and scaffolding and tarpaulin often obscured the front of the house.

Mr Gunwhy was originally issued with a £1,100 fine in March this year.  Failing to make any improvements, frustrated neighbours Kenneth Tolley said he and his wife Caroline wished planner officers would take the complaint seriously.

Mr Tolley said: “We have tried to look after our house and had a new roof put on, new fascias fitted and worked on the garden, so to live next door to it is just frustrating. It affects my wife worse than it affects me because I try and ignore a lot of it.”

Planning enforcement officers frequently visited the property since March 2010, warning Mr Gunwhy that if he did not tidy his property, he would be faced with a fine. In July 2010, Worcester City Council issed a  section 215 Tidy-up Notice after the council decided the house was beginning to adversely affect the amenity of the area.

Although Mr and Mrs Tolley were eager for some action to be taken against Mr Gunwhy, both did not want him to be prosecuted.

Mr Tolley said: “We are pleased that the planning officers are taking it seriously but we don’t want him prosecuted, we just want him to do some work to the house.”

Worcester Magistrates Court charged Mr Gunwhy on Thursday 4th October for failing to act on numerous complaints, official notices and court orders.

Alongside his £2000 fine, he was also ordered to pay £500 costs and a £15 victim surcharge in his absence.

For information on enforcement notices, contact expert Planning Law Solicotors, Kingsley- Smith Solcitors.

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