OPERATORS of a rogue car workshop paid a steep price for ignoring planning enforcement notices after being hauled before a court.

Premier Panels of Unit 21 –23 Millenium House, Purfleet Industrial Park, Juliet Way, Aveley, started a car repair and tyre fitting business on a site at 1A London Road, Aveley, without getting the proper planning permission. They also built a fence without getting planning consent.

After the company - which has one director, Qudrattullah Follad, aged 65 - ignored enforcement notices telling it to stop using the site for repairs and tyre changing and ordering it to remove the fence the council took court action.

At the court hearing, before Basildon magistrates Premier Panel pleaded guilty to two planning enforcement offences.

The court imposed a fine of £15,000, reduced to £10,000 to reflect the company's early guilty plea. In addition, the court ordered the company to pay a £4,000 victim surcharge and £2,192 in costs, bringing the total amount payable to £16,192.

Cllr Tom Kelly, cabinet member for Regeneration, said: "Planning rules are in place to protect our communities, our environment and make sure that our neighbourhoods stay as safe and pleasant places to live and work.

"This successful prosecution shows how seriously we take planning matters and should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks they can simply ignore planning enforcement notices."