£600 fine for Stretton-under-Fosse skip company owner who defied planning enforcement notice

Dennis Pargetter was first visited by planning enforcement officers from Rugby Borough Council in October 2016 after the council received a complaint about a business operating at Broomfield Farm in Smeaton Lane.

When they arrived, officers found skips and skip lorries stored at the site and advised Mr Pargetter he needed planning permission to run his business, Brinklow Skip Hire, at the farm.

Pargetter twice contacted the council to confirm his intention to submit a planning application, but in March 2017 he changed his mind and said he intended to stop running the business at the site by April 3, 2017.

When officers visited the site to check Pargetter had stopped running the business, they found a skip lorry and a number of skips were found.

Officers then issued an enforcement notice to stop the site being used to store and distribute skips and skip lorries.

After Pargetter initially complied with the notice, the council received another complaint in August 2018 about a skip hire business operating at the farm.

Pargetter was reminded he needed planning permission and he again said he intended to submit an application, but when he failed to apply - and officers found the business still operating in October - the council decided to prosecute him.

At Nuneaton's Warwickshire Justice Centre on Monday 4 February, Pargetter pleaded guilty to breaching the enforcement notice - an offence under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

In mitigation, Pargetter said his solicitor has been dealing with separate enforcement action taken by Warwickshire County Council and he mistakenly believed the enforcement notice with Rugby Borough Council had also been dealt with.

Pargetter added he now intended to apply for planning permission to operate the skip hire business at the farm.

Magistrates fined the 66-year-old £600 for breaching the enforcement notice. He was also ordered to pay £342 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Speaking after the hearing, Cllr Sebastian Lowe, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for growth and investment, said: "We have a duty to enforce planning regulations and, while our enforcement team always aims to resolve issues through constructive dialogue, we have no hesitation in prosecuting individuals or organisations who choose to flout the law."

Residents can report suspected breaches of planning regulations by calling 01788 533759 or emailing [email protected]