Express & Star

Couple face £1,200 bill over Willenhall eyesore shop

A couple who own a long-standing eyesore property in Willenhall town centre have been ordered to pay more than £1,200 in fines and costs after failing to clean it up.

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The former Dainty's toy shop, in Stafford Street, has been in a state of disrepair for more than a decade.

Walsall Council issued a notice to Raj and Geeta Gupta requiring them to carry out a schedule of works, but they were fined yesterday at Walsall Magistrates Court yesterday after failing to comply.

Mrs Gupta, aged 54, and Mr Gupta, aged 57, both pleaded guilty to failing to carry out the works by December last year as requested and were told to pay £1,285 between them.

The notice was served on the Guptas, of Highfield Road, Dudley, last July and some of the work included removing dirt and algae, fresh painting and reinstating the gutter and drainpipes.

But the council said the couple had only carried out minimal work, such as boarding up windows and removing some rubbish, and failed to meet the requirements of the notice within a certain time period.

Quaint – the picturesque Dainty's in Stafford Street as it looked during its heyday before it was allowed to go to rack and ruin

Mr Dominic Patouchas, prosecuting, said: "The property...was once used as a shop with living accommodation above.

"Walsall Council issued a notice requiring work to be done on the property, but most of it wasn't done."

Mr Gupta has, however, lodged a planning application with the council in a bid to turn the building into one shop and five flats.

This was one way in which the couple were trying to put things right, said Mr Kublir Kumar, defending.

They had also unsuccessfully commissioned architects in a bid to improve the building and been let down by builders, he said.

Mr Kumar said:?"These people are both of good character.

"They have no previous breaches and they are both responsible people with a strong working ethos.

"Mr and Mrs Gupta have both made efforts to change the appearance of the property."

But magistrate Mr Geoffrey Camm told them: "The fact you have asked for planning permission does not mean compliance of the orders. You should have complied with them as requested."

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