A HOMEOWNER has been ordered to pay £1,500 for leaving up unsightly scaffolding at a listed building in Grimsby for six years.
Paul Brown, of Pelham Terrace, off Brighowgate, Grimsby, admitted two offences of failing to comply with the Listed Buildings Enforcement Notice under Section 7 of the Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990 at Grimsby And Cleethorpes Magistrates' Court. He was fined £750 and ordered to pay £750 costs.
Pelham Terrace was built in 1854 by the Earl of Yarborough and is among the finest historic buildings in Grimsby.
The court heard that scaffolding had been left in place at the front of two neighbouring properties in the terrace since 2007.
After failing to secure the removal of the scaffolding by negotiation, the council served an enforcement notice in August 2011, followed by a warning letter in March 2012 and an enforcement officer visit in May 2012, but the scaffolding remained in place.
The scaffolding had a detrimental impact to the appearance and character of the terrace and the wider conservation area, especially as the street is next to a major route into the town.
In mitigation, Mr Brown said he was proud of the building and had been delayed by the difficulty of the delicate works required and the cost.
Councillor Peter Wheatley, portfolio holder for regeneration and environment at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: "It's important that we strike the correct balance between encouraging development and taking a firm stance with enforcement against those who ignore legislation. In this case we had no alternative but to prosecute after the defendant failed to comply with our repeated requests to remove the scaffolding.
"It had blighted the area for six years, but this prosecution should ensure that the scaffolding is now removed and the appearance of the building restored, with benefits for the wider conservation area. "
Jason Longhurst, head of development at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: "North East Lincolnshire Council will continue to help and support the owners of listed buildings, providing expert advice and information, so as to ensure that repairs and maintenance are undertaken to the right standard. This will ensure that the character and appearance of buildings is retained for future generations to appreciate.
"In this case, the scaffolding has been in place for more than six years and lengthy negotiations have failed to result in its removal. I sincerely hope that the scaffold is now removed as the roof repairs which it enabled have been completed for some time. This will avoid the need for further action."
