A Wiltshire man has been given a suspended prison sentence for breaching a High Court injunction to remove unlawfully built properties from his land.
Some of the land at Quarry Woods at Quarry Hill in Box, Wiltshire, is owned by Stephen Windsor of Bathwick, Bath.
The woods lie within a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the North Wiltshire Greenbelt and a Special Area of Conservation. It also provides a critical habitat for an estimated 10% of the UK’s population of greater horseshoe bat, one of the country’s rarest species.
Without seeking permission, Mr Windsor built a series of wooden structures, including a wooden toilet block and wooden jetty.
During a hearing at the Business and Property Courts in Bristol in January, Mr Windsor was told to remove the structures by 30th April or face going to jail for 21 days. He was also ordered to pay costs of £10,000 to Wiltshire Council within fourteen days.
The High Court injunction was issued following Mr Windsor’s failure to comply with a notice to demolish the buildings in February 2023. A failed appeal took place in July 2023 and the High Court injunction ordered the demolition to take place by April 2024. Mr Windsor’s failure to do anything other than remove the toilet block prompted the further action by the Council.
In a statement from Wiltshire Council, Nick Botterill said: “This sentence underlines our firm stance on unauthorised buildings in Wiltshire.
“Although the structures may be small, they were built without permission in highly protected deciduous woodlands.”
If you are planning to build any additional structures within the bounds of your property, make sure you consult your local planning department to determine whether planning permission is required.