A Laxey woman has been fined £7,500 after admitting failing to comply with an enforcement notice.
Catriona Sharkey, aged 52, of Ramsey Road, using land at the Paddocks to store commercial vehicles, machinery, a Portacabin, cable reel, despite not have permission to do so.
She was initially jointly charged with her husband, Hugh Patrick Sharkey, but the charge against him was withdrawn in light of his wife’s guilty plea and difficulties in him attending court due to ill health.
Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court how Mrs Sharkey had breached the Town and Country Planning Act.
In March 2015 the planning department were requested to investigate matters at the Paddocks due to a commercial vehicle being kept there.
A number of site visits were made by planning officials and on September 8, 2016 enforcement notices were served on both Mr and Mrs Sharkey.
The notice required them to cease using the land for the storage of commercial vehicles, a cable reel, a portacabin and containers.
No appeal was made against the notice and the Sharkeys were ordered to comply by January 6, 2017.
On January 11, 2017, a planning enforcement officer visited the site to find the items had not been removed.
On May 22, 2017, another letter was sent regarding the removal of the items.
The items were said to be ’unsightly’ rather than a danger and a complaint had been initiated by a neighbour.
The court heard that the maximum penalty for the offence in summary court is £40,000 but the notice had now been complied with.
Defence advocate Paul Rodgers said that there had been a number of adjournments in the case previously due to family bereavements.
’They didn’t seek to appeal the order. The property is Mr and Mrs Sharkey’s home. It has a fair size of land accompanying it. It is a very basic offence, vehicles and containers left on the property. It is a fairly rural property with not many neighbours affected.’
Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said: ’It has taken over 18 months to comply with the enforcement notice. You have previous convictions relating to compliance of a different nature.’
Mrs Hughes also ordered that Mrs Sharkey pay £125 prosecution costs