Defendant jailed over failure to pay £167k fine issued for non-compliance with planning enforcement notice

A woman has been jailed for default of payment of a £167,378 fine issued after she failed to comply with a planning enforcement notice to remove structures she built on green belt land.

Tracie Carter, 52 of Aqueduct Lane, Alvechurch was committed to prison for 12 months by Kidderminster Magistrates in May, 18 months after the initial fine was imposed.

Carter, had previously applied for planning permission in 2004 to build six stables on land at Aqueduct Lane but despite it being refused she continued to develop the land.

According to Bromsgrove District Council, this included installing a mobile home with decking for residential use, creation of a large stable block, menage, haystore, fencing and gates and vehicle access. 

“It was evident at the time, from site visits that Ms Carter had moved into the mobile home and was renting out the stables and equine facilities to a third party,” the council claimed.

On 1 November 2023 a 12 month suspended sentence was imposed on Carter as the judge was not satisfied that all efforts had been made to facilitate payment.

The 12-month sentence was activated on 20 May 2024 after Carter had been found to have not made all efforts to pay the fine.

Head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services Simon Wilkes said: “Bromsgrove District Council will not tolerate breaches of notices and its planning officers will continue to work with their enforcement colleagues at WRS to ensure planning decisions are adhered to.”

Bromsgrove District Council’s Head of Planning Ruth Bamford added: “Bromsgrove District has a lot of green belt which is important to protect from harmful development.”