Two Wokingham borough residents have been ordered to pay more than £9,000 by Reading Magistrates Court after repeatedly failing to comply with two planning enforcement notices.
Graham and Patricia Procter each pleaded guilty to two charges of breach of an enforcement notice under the Town and Country Planning Act on July 25, 2025.
The pair were sentenced at Reading Magistrates Court on August 8, and ordered to pay £7,700 in fines and victim surcharge.
Additionally, the defendants were ordered to pay Wokingham Borough Council £1,500 for the cost of bringing the case.
A spokesperson for Wokingham borough council said: “August’s result underlines our determination to take action against people who ignore planning laws.
“Unlawful developments can have significant negative impacts on communities. We will always act to protect them in the borough in instances like this.
The case concerned unauthorised developments and material change of use at Fairview Farm on Forest Road in Wokingham.
The two enforcement notices, issued in 2022, required, among other things, that the individuals:
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cease the unauthorised use of the land for commercial, parking and storage use.
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demolish the four buildings built without planning permission.
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remove all items associated with the unauthorised mixed use of the land, including shipping containers, building materials, vehicles and trailers from the land.
The individuals failed to comply with the notices by the required compliance date. Following further warnings, the council began legal proceedings, resulting in the sentences handed down by Reading Magistrates Court.
It was confirmed at the sentencing hearing in August that the enforcement notices had now both been complied with.
Failure to comply with an enforcement notice by the required date is a criminal offence. The maximum sentence is an unlimited fine.
