A COUPLE  are trying to ensure no enforcement is made regarding their house and business premises, given the length of time a planning breach has gone on there.

Permission was given in 1994 for Pichells Place, a redundant farm building at Wall Hills Farm west of Ledbury, to be converted into a four-bedroom home – on condition that it remain occupied by someone engaged, or previously engaged, in farming.

A later extension of the property into an outbuilding was also permitted in 1998.

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Simon Tinson who undertook the conversion, along with wife Helen, “have jointly and continuously occupied the property since July 2003”, their application for a certificate of lawfulness says.

In 2005, Mr Tinson set up Clover Conservatories and Construction, which “has operated from Pichells Place continuously” since, it explains.

This was even confirmed by a successful planning application for the change of use of the building at the time, to a “double glazing business, to include office and storage facility”.

OTHER NEWS:

In a sworn declaration accompanying the application (numbered 241839), Mr Tinson says he had worked at the family livestock farm until this ceased trading in the wake of the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001, but has not been employed in farming since.

This is supported by further statements from his wife (a previous employee of the company), mother, friends, business contacts and bank.

Planning breaches going back continuously over ten or more years are immune from enforcement action, which a certificate of lawfulness would confirm.

Comments on the couple’s application can be made until August 15.