Unauthorised land use leads to court appearance

Unauthorised motorbike scrambling and car dumping on his own land at Groombridge, East Sussex, cost a Kent man fines totalling £4,500.

Ian Sudds (33) of Stanley Road, Tunbridge Wells, ignored three planning enforcement notices in connection with unauthorised land use and has been fined by Lewes Magistrates £1,500 on each count.

The breaches involved failure to get planning permission to carry out motorbike scrambling and store vehicles and building material on land at Cherry Garden Hill, Groombridge, and failure to get planning permission to construct timber decking and a barbecue on the land.

Mr Sudds, who owns the land with his two brothers, was served with enforcement notices in October 2004 following complaints about unauthorised activities and construction from local residents. The notices were ignored. The unauthorised activities continued, intruding on the character of the area, prompting Wealden District Council to take court action.

“This land forms part of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,” said Cllr Nigel Coltman, Leader of Wealden District Council. “We are not prepared to see its amenity value eroded and our attempts to preserve it ignored.”

The September 26 session of Lewes Magistrates also ordered Mr Sudds to pay £610 in cost to the Council.