MISLEADING information provided to a planning contravention notice has resulted in fines.
Stratford District Council prosecuted a firm and two individuals after issuing planning contravention notices while trying to establish whether a garage building in Earlswood was being lived in.
AE Beckett & Sons Limited, Simon Beckett and Laura Richardson all initially pleaded not guilty to the charges of providing false or misleading information, but all three were found guilty when they appeared at Nuneaton Magistrates Court.
Both owners were each fined £1,000. A E Beckett & Sons Limited was also ordered to pay costs of £4,500, and Simon Beckett costs of £2,896.
Laura Richardson, who was living in the building, was fined £150, with costs of £220.
Council regulatory committee chair Coun Simon Lawton said: “This case has taken up considerable planning department and legal services staff time and resources.
“During his judgement the chairman praised officers for their professionalism in presenting evidence during the proceedings and for the clarity of our case and I would like to thank all the officers involved.
“The message is to provide correct answers to Planning Contravention Notices and not to provide false or misleading information in an attempt to circumvent the planning system.”
