A MESSAGE is being sent out that people and companies who disobey planning laws will not get away with it.

East Hampshire District CouncilÕs north planning committee agreed last Thursday to take all necessary action to demolish a half-built house in Selborne, hoping that it will send out a clear message.

This will involved the council removing the house itself and then taking action to recover costs from Connaught Quarries Ltd, which failed to comply with an enforcement notice to remove the house in Honey Lane near Selborne Brickworks.

The house has a considerable planning and enforcement history.

After the enforcement and stop notice was issued in February 1999 because planning permission had not been secured, a new planning application to retain and build the house was submitted.

However this was refused in June last year and subsequent appeals by the applicant to the Planning Inspectorate and the High Court have been unsuccessful.

Despite failing to overturn the enforcement notice, Connaught has failed to clear the site.

In her report to the committee, enforcement officer Lesley Wells said: ÒGiven the history of the site, the propensity to change ownership of the land and the lack of any real indication of any intention to comply with the notice since it came into effect, there is a real risk that it will not be complied with unless further action is taken by this authority.Ó

District councillors supported the enforcement officer and agreed that action should be taken to get rid of the house - even if the district council has to pick up the bill, which could be as much as £8,500.

Tony Ludlow (Farringdon) said: ÒIt is a matter of principle. We should take action, this is a clear breach of planning regulations.Ó

Jerry Janes (Alton) said that if EHDC did not take action then it would be allowing Connaught to Òget away with itÓ.

ÒEven if we fail to recover £8,500, it is more important to send out the message that the council will not tolerate such behaviour,Ó he said.

Maurice Johnson (North Downland) said: ÒThis has been going on for years and now we have the opportunity to do something about it.

ÒWe have to let it be known that we are not going to be messed about any longer. Even if we do have to carry the cost, it will be cheap at the price.Ó

EHDC planning officers hope that the half-built house will be completely removed before the end of the year.