A Pembrokeshire man must remove abandoned cars, scrap and other waste from his land within weeks or face a potential prison sentence following Pembrokeshire County Council court action.
John Goruffydd Arthur Haffield of Fron Haul, Clynderwen, has until May 9th 2024 to clear land east of Gower Villa Lane, Clynderwen after District Judge Pratt granted an injunction to the Council.
The Council sought the injunction after Mr Haffield failed to take action to clear the land following a Council Enforcement Notice issued in 2018.
Mr Haffield pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the Enforcement Notice in March 2021 but there remained no effort to clear the land.
If Mr Haffield does not comply with the injunction he will be guilty of contempt of court and face a potential prison sentence and/or an unlimited fine.
Concerns about the state of the land at Gower Villa Lane date back to 2017 when complaints were received by the Council’s Planning department.
Visits to site discovered a static caravan, abandoned vehicles, machinery, trailers, white goods and significant general waste.
The Council wrote to Mr Haffield asking that the land be cleared within 28 days.
Further letters followed before Mr Haffield finally responded in January 2018, claiming that he intended to clear the site by that August.
When that work was not undertaken the Enforcement Notice was issued.
Mr Haffield initially appealed but failure to communicate with the Planning Inspectorate saw the appeal closed and the prosecution for failing to comply proceed.
Mr Haffield was fined £500 and ordered to pay £550 in costs and surcharge.
At the County Court earlier this month, District Judge Pratt said Mr Haffield had a lack of understanding of the seriousness of the proceedings.
The Council was awarded costs of £1,132.
The injunction requires the removal all un-roadworthy vehicles, articulated box trailer, static caravan, various tanks, tyres, piping, baths, patio heater, machinery, white goods, scrap metals, plastics, timber and all other waste materials by May 9.
All of the above must be disposed of at an authorised location.
Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, Cllr Jon Harvey, said: “I welcome the decision to grant the injunction in this case and thank the Planning Enforcement and Legal Teams for their work
“It is a shame that this situation has got to a point where the Council has had no option but to take this course of action.
“This case is a prime example of what happens if you do not engage with planning colleagues or ignore enforcement notices. The problem will not go away.”
