FARNHAM resident Michael Robinson has been fined £5,000 for continually breaching Waverley Borough Council planning enforcement notices.

Mr Robinson, of Water Lane, Farnham, pleaded guilty at Guildford Magistrates’ Court to failing to comply with a formal notice to cease car repairs at his residential address.

Waverley portfolio holder for planning enforcement, Chris Storey said: “Despite repeated warnings from the council, the defendant continued to carry out car repairs at his home address. The property is within a protected area of countryside, right next to a public footpath and isn’t suitable for a car repair business. The council resorts to taking people to court only when they break the law and continually ignore enforcement notices.”

Over three years, the council had visited the property five times, issued three letters and an enforcement notice.

He was ordered to pay a fine of £5,000, plus the council’s legal costs of a further £469.33 and a victim surcharge of £120.