TWO local men have been fined more than £12,000 after they pleaded guilty to repeatedly breaching planning laws, by building in ancient woodland near Hanbury.

Wychavon District council took action against 70-year-old Michael Banham of Feckenham Road in Hanbury, and 61-year-old Claude Banham of Dovercote Road in Bromsgrove, after they failed to comply with seven enforcement notices, ordering them to remove a number of buildings and other structures, which they had put in place in and around Little Goosehill Wood.

Planning officers had first investigated complaints of work taking place on the land, which is a special wildlife site, in 2010.

They discovered several buildings which had been constructed, as well as bricks and rubble which were being stored without permission. A static caravan was also being used by someone to live in and there were pigsties, a fire engine and storage containers on the site.

In 2012 the council received further complaints about greenhouses being erected on the land, as well as an extension being built onto an existing property, which did have planning permission.

Planning applications were submitted by the defendants to try and gain approval for the unauthorised development but they were rejected, and appeals to the Planning Inspectorate were dismissed. It was after that that Wychavon District Council issued its enforcement notices against the pair in early 2013, having LREdy informed them that the work was illegal and they should stop.

Removal of the structures was delayed by more than a year because great crested newts were discovered on the site, but that was resolved in July 2014, after which the Banhams were given six weeks to finally comply with the notices or face legal action. Council officers made further visits in September of last year and February of this year, both of which confirmed not all of the work had been completed, and the prosecution went ahead.

In the pair’s defence, the court heard how a lot of the work had already been completed and more had been carried out since the February visit. Magistrates were also told Michael Banham, who is now the sole owner of the land, wanted to submit a planning application for permission to retain some of the existing buildings.

Graeme Duerden, development control manager for Wychavon District Council, said: “We’re pleased with the severity of the sentence following what has been a lengthy and frustrating process. This sends a strong message that you cannot flout planning rules and get away with it.”

Michael Banham was fined £11,000 and ordered to pay costs of £394 and a victim surcharge of £50, while Claude Banham was fined £1,600 and ordered to pay costs of £72 and a victim surcharge of £50.