Listed Buildings Prosecutions Database Commentary

52 in November 2013. The council issued a number of verbally and written warnings in November and December 2013 and the defendants were told to stop work but carried on regardless adding structural steelwork and risking "irreversible damage" to the historic brickwork. District Judge Coleman told the court that the “historic fabric” of the house had been destroyed in the “drastic” operation, affecting the building’s physical stability. The court rejected claims by the owners that they did not know the building was listed after it emerged that the engineer had informed them that it was. Owadally and Khan were found guilty on all four counts, and were fined £27,000 plus £15,000 costs each. Williams was found guilty of one count relating to the construction of a new roof, and was fined £4,000, plus £5,000 costs. Additionally all three defendants were required to pay a victim surcharge of £120. (Source: LPA) West Lindsey District Council [12-1992] Collow Abbey Farmhouse, East Torrington, Listed Grade 2. Consent was granted in March 1991 to alter and extend the farmhouse, subject to conditions. The demolition of the south and west walls of the original house was sought because these had proved structurally unsound, however at a site visit in late October 1991 Council officers discovered that during that month unauthorised works had been undertaken to the farmhouse involving the demolition of the north or rear wall; part of the east gable wall; the chimney stack and adjacent staircase. The farmhouse had been almost totally demolished and only a section of the original east gable wall remained. The owner claimed to have approval to demolish all the outer walls (although approval for total demolition had not been sought) and the chimney stack had fallen down. At some point between 5 th November 1991 and 11 th February 1992 further partial demolition was carried out to the south and west walls which although authorized by a listed building consent issued in November 1991 had failed to comply with conditions attached to the approval requiring the materials of the demolished parts of the building (south and west walls) to be retained on site to be used as part of the reconstructed building; and the rebuilt walls to be constructed in a similar manner to those then existing using reclaimed bricks and finished externally to the Council’s satisfaction. In actuality, the rebuilt walls were not constructed in a similar manner to the demolished walls; were not constructed using reclaimed materials; and were not finished externally as the Council required. Mr. & Mrs. J Robinson pleaded guilty at Market Rasen Magistrates Court to two charges relating to the October 1991 demolition and failure to rebuild in a similar manner; but not guilty to the charge relating to the retention and reuse of the materials from the later demolition (and the Council offered no evidence