A man from the rural hamlet of Well Hill in Shoreham who built a wall more than two metres high without planning permission has been fined £11,610 by Sevenoaks magistrates.

John William Tibbs of Rock Hill pleaded guilty to breaching a planning enforcement notice issued by Sevenoaks District Council in April 2015.

The notice ordered Tibbs to demolish the brick and metal structure outside his home as well as removing a raised patio behind the wall.

The council said the oversized, overbearing structure, which runs the length of the property, was out-of-keeping within the Green Belt in which it was situated. It also posed a danger to other road users by blocking sight lines of drivers leaving the property.

Tibbs applied for planning permission to retain the wall on three occasions. Two applications proposed minor modifications to the structure. All three applications were refused.

Tibbs appealed against two of the council’s decisions and on both occasions, the appeals were rejected by a Government’s planning inspector.

Despite the enforcement notice being issued more than four years ago, Tibbs has taken no action to remove the wall or the patio.

'This wall is overbearing and out of keeping in its rural Green Belt setting' - Cllr Julia Thornton

On Friday, December 6, magistrates ordered Tibbs to pay a £9,000 fine, costs of £2,540 and a victim surcharge of £170.

Sevenoaks District Council said it would take further legal action if Tibbs still failed to comply with the enforcement notice.

Cllr Julia Thornton, the council’s cabinet member for development and conservation, said: “This wall is overbearing and out of keeping in its rural Green Belt setting. The Planning Inspectorate clearly agreed with us by refusing it twice on appeal.

"Despite being a long-running case, we were prepared to do what was necessary to continue to protect the Green Belt and we will not hesitate to take further action if the wall is not demolished.”

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