Man fined for unauthorised use of land near Gillingham
69 year old Valentine Ealson has been prosecuted by Dorset Council
A Gillingham man's been fined for the unauthorised use of land, and failing to comply with a Dorset Council Planning Enforcement Notice.
6\9 year old Valentine Ealson admitted the charge at Weymouth Magistrates Court.
It relates to land at Buckhorn Weston, where vehicles, caravans, machinery and scrap metal had been stored illegally.
Ealson had been asked by Dorset Council to remove everything, following complaints from residents about the potential harmful impact on the local environment.
Over the course of 18 months, he was regularly visited by enforcement officers, and while there were minor improvements, it wasn't deemed enough, and a prosecution followed.
He's been handed a £250 fine, with benefit given for his guilty plea, as well as a victim surcharge of £100 and costs of £600.
The Court warned Ealson that the sentence was passed on the basis that almost all remaining items were to be removed by March 2025.
Cllr Shane Bartlett, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, said:
“This continued breach undermined the integrity of the planning process, and the respect and confidence people have for planning laws and their enforcement by Dorset Council. It’s important that everyone understands that we are fully prepared to act when necessary.
“In this instance, the defendant had every opportunity to work with our Planning Enforcement Team to resolve the issues before a prosecution was used as a last resort. As he failed to respond appropriately, we were left with no choice but to take the matter to court.
“I want to personally thank our Planning Enforcement officers and our Legal team for their hard work in getting the case to this stage. I hope this result will be seen as a clear example of the enforcement powers Dorset Council has at their disposal, and of our willingness to use them in the interests of the communities we serve.”