Court case ruling

Stratford Magistrates Court awarded Stratford-on-Avon District Council £1,200 costs following a court case on 26 March 2009 and fined Thomas Goodman of The Bungalow, Warwick Road, Ettington, Warwickshire £1,000.

Mr Goodman failed to implement a plan for hedgerow boundary planting as part of a planning condition relating to planning permission granted by the District Council. 

Following this a Breach of Condition Notice was served in relation to the landscaping scheme that had not been carried out.  This notice was also not complied with and legal proceedings were instigated.

The landscaping, including hedgerow planting has now been carried out to the Councils satisfaction.

"This case recognises the importance of protecting our District environment and the need to comply with planning rules," said Cllr Stuart Beese, Planning Portfolio Holder.

People who continue to break these rules and threaten the character of the District risk legal action and significant penalties. Communities sometimes accuse us of not doing enough to enforce those rules, so I hope this will demonstrate that the Council does indeed have teeth and we will not be deterred from taking action, when appropriate.

I am very pleased to see the hedge replanted in this beautiful country lane, which has many varieties of flora and fauna and is highly valued by local residents.