Banbury couple fined for not obeying demand to maintain house and garden

Lanchester Drive, where Cherwell District Council had to carry out clearing of gardens and replace windows | jpimediaresell

A married couple in Banbury have been fined thousands of pounds in penalties and costs for failing to keep their house and garden in reasonable order.

Graham Colin Perring and Beverley Perring of Lanchester Drive, Banbury had been required to clear overgrown vegetation in the front and back gardens, replace rotten windows and repair the front porch of their property, which they failed to do.

The order was made by Cherwell District Council which decided on a prosecution, heard by Oxford Magistrates Court on December 16.

Mr and Mrs Perring did not appear in court but each was found guilty for failing to comply with the notice, served under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

They were each fined £660 and ordered to pay costs of £1791.60 to be paid by March 15.

A Cherwell spokesman said: "The property had deteriorated to the point that it was giving rise to neighbour complaints and the notice was served in July 2017 requiring them to tidy it up but nothing was done.

"The Council made numerous attempts to contact the Perrings in order to try and resolve the matter without success. It is an offence not to comply with a Section 215 Notice and hence the Perrings were prosecuted for failure to comply.

"As the harm to the neighbours and local area was so bad the council decided to take direct action as well as prosecute. In late September the Council sent workmen in to carry out the necessary work, and the Perrings have been given a bill for that."