Winchester City Council clear site at Fair View, Red Lane, Owslebury
Winchester Council entered the site at Fair View, Red Lane in Owslebury on Wednesday 21 December 2005, with contractors and cleared the land in compliance with an enforcement notice dated 17 April 2004.
The enforcement notice required the cessation of the use of the land as a residential caravan site and for storage purposes. Whilst the residential use of the site ceased some time ago, the land continued to be used for storage purposes. Some of the stored items were vandalised and fires have taken place on the land.
The owner's failure to clear the land had attracted both vandalism and dumping, and created an 'eyesore' alongside a public footpath, in an otherwise attractive rural location.
Before this action was taken the Council's Planning Enforcement Team tried to resolve the matter by contacting the owner, but this was not successful. Steps will now be taken to recover the Council's costs from the owner for undertaking these works.
Local Member, Cllr Richard Knasel commented that "It was necessary to take this action, because the owner failed to clear the land. This sends out a message to any individual who flouts planning law within the District that robust action will be taken when developments are unacceptable to the Council".