Staffordshire off-licence owners in court over extension
Off-licence owners have been taken to court after failing to demolish an extension that was built out without planning permission.
Liquor Stop, which is also a newsagents, underwent work in Stafford Road, Cannock and was served an enforcement notice by Cannock Chase District Council last September.
Owners Sukhpreet Kaur and Baldev Singh pleaded guilty to a breach of the notice and were hit with a combined bill of just under £500 at Stafford Magistrates Court.
The court heard that the pair, who are related, thought permission had been granted permission for work. It was said they will now knock down the extension.
Mrs Julie Simpson, prosecuting on behalf of Cannock Chase District Council, said the owners were granted permission for a two storey-side extension and single-storey expansion to the rear of the property on a previous occasion.
But an application for a larger extension at the building, which is an off-licence and newsagent with living quarters, was then submitted during last summer, but subsequently rejected by the district council.
However, building work began by last September and council officers soon became aware what was being built was not in accordance with the approved plans.
The side extension was 2.5 metres longer than it should have been and the rear extension one metre bigger.
A stop notice was issued to the owners and enforcement notice that the extension be knocked down.
This was due to be done by the start of this year but the parts which needed to be demolished were not.
A statement given on behalf of the pair by a relative said they had been told by a planning agent that the permission for the larger extension had been granted.
It wasn't until September they were aware of the issue and have been in discussions with the surveyor.
It was said they would be prepared to demolish the extension which did not have the necessary permission.
The charge stated that between September 27 and January 9, being the owner of the land in Stafford Road, they were in breach of a notice issued by Cannock Chase District Council and failed to comply with an enforcement notice.
The pair, of Stafford Road, Cannock, each admitted the offence under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. It can carry a maximum sentence of £20,000 fine.
Magistrates decided father-in-law Singh and Kaur were given a 12-month conditional discharge each, ordered to pay £230 costs each along with a £15 victim surcharge.
