A woman in Tredegar, Lesley Priestley, has been given a deadline to remove unauthorised decking near the Sirhowy river or face a fine of up to £20,000. This decision was made by the Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council’s Planning committee following a complaint received in June 2021. An enforcement notice was issued to Ms Priestley in September 2023, leading to an appeal that was rejected by a Welsh Government planning inspector in August 2023.
The decking was found to be in a flood zone and of importance to nature and conservation, prompting the enforcement action. Ms Priestley now has three months from the inspector’s decision in August to take down the decking. She had argued that the decking should be permitted under development rights, citing advice from the council’s website. However, the inspector’s visit in August found the decking to be in breach of planning control due to its height and location.
The Planning committee visited the site before the decision and noted that the decking was still in place. Ms Priestley described the request to remove the decking as unreasonable and disputed the flood risk assessment. However, the planning inspector’s decision upheld the enforcement notice, stating that no permitted development rights applied to the decking.
The clock is ticking for Ms Priestley to comply with the notice, or she may face a substantial fine. The case highlights the importance of adhering to planning regulations and obtaining proper approvals for property developments. Residents are urged to follow appropriate procedures to avoid potential legal consequences.