TWO men have been fined more than £12,000 for repeatedly breaching planning laws by building in ancient woodland near Hanbury.

Wychavon District Council took action against Claude and Michael Banham after they failed to comply with seven enforcement notices, ordering the pair to remove a series of buildings and other structures they had put in place in and around Little Goosehill Wood.

The pair pleaded guilty to all offences at a hearing at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on June 18.

Michael Banham, 70 and of Feckenham Road in Hanbury, was fined £11,000 and ordered to pay costs of £394 and a victim surcharge of £50.

Claude Banham, 61 and of Dovercote Road in Bromsgrove was fined £1,600 and ordered to pay costs of £72 and a victim surcharge of £50.

The case dates back to 2010 when planning officers began investigating complaints of work taking place on the land which is a special wildlife site. It was found various buildings had been constructed while materials such as bricks and rubble 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.

In 2012 further complaints were made about greenhouses being put up on the land and an extension to an existing building which did have planning permission. The defendants did submit planning applications to try and gain approval for the unauthorised development but they were rejected. Appeals to the Planning Inspectorate were also dismissed and following that Wychavon District Council issued the enforcement notices against the pair in early 2013, having previously told them the work was illegal and to stop.

But the process was delayed by over a year by the presence of great crested newts on the site. Once that was resolved in July 2014, the Banhams were given six weeks to finally comply with the notices or face legal action. Visits took place in September of that year and February 2015 which confirmed not all of the work had been completed leading to the prosecution.

In the pair’s defence, the court heard 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.”