A woman has been jailed after installing a mobile home on green belt land without permission.
Tracie Carter, 52, was fined more than £165,000 for installing a mobile home and horse stables on her land in Alvechurch, Worcestershire.
She was initially refused planning permission for the builds in 2004 but ignored council orders and then refused to remove the structures, resulting in a 12-month suspended sentence being activated.
What was built on the site?
The buildings on Carter's property include a residential mobile home with amenities like decking, a large stable block, and various equestrian facilities.
She also built six stables on the land, which she rented out.
These were all built on green belt land in Alvechurch and she lived in the mobile home, but planning permission was never granted for the mobile home or stables.
'The council will not tolerate breaches of notices'
Local officials emphasised their commitment to enforcing planning regulations, underscoring that breaches would not be tolerated.
Bromsgrove councillors initially refused Carter's planning application, citing the development's negative impact on the green belt's openness and appropriateness.
Head of Service at Worcestershire Regulatory Services, Simon Wilkes, said: “The council will not tolerate breaches of notices. Officers will continue to work with WRS to ensure planning decisions are adhered to.”
Refusal to pay the fine
After being convicted in her absence in November 2022, Carter was ordered by the court to demolish the unauthorised structures and pay a hefty fine of £167,378.
However, instead of complying, Carter ignored the court's orders and was given a 12-month suspended sentence as a last opportunity to pay the fine, but Carter still failed to meet the court's demands.
Consequently, District Judge Ian Strongman activated the prison term stating his dissatisfaction with her efforts to settle the fine.
