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An East Bergholt man who ran his stretch limousine business from his house in a quiet cul-de-sac and ignored a Council enforcement order to stop is nearly £3000 worse off after the case was heard at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court yesterday (25th June).
Philip Peter Thompson of Whitefield - a private road serving 22 bungalows in the village - received an enforcement notice in 2006 from Babergh District Council – against which he subsequently appealed.
In spite of his appeal having been turned down by a Government Inspector, during the course of July 2007 he lodged a planning application with Babergh proposing to continue the use by parking a single stretched limousine on the forecourt of the premises. This proposal was not supported by the Council.
Both during and since that time, Mr Thompson has persisted in parking his two stretched limousines on the forecourt at the front of the site, leaving Babergh no further option but to prosecute.
Ipswich Magistrates’ fined Mr Thompson £2000, plus £940 costs and £15 as a victim surcharge.
Cate Buck, Babergh’s Environmental Protection Officer said “Babergh District Council is very pleased with this outcome as it fully vindicates our efforts and policies to preserve the character of its residential areas from unacceptable business activities”.
“In this particular case, and in spite of having had his appeal against an earlier enforcement notice rejected by a planning inspector, Mr Thompson persisted in parking two stretch limos on the forecourt of his home. Babergh was left with no alternative but to take the matter to court to resolve the issue”.
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