A Bellanaleck man who built a jetty on a riverbank in Enniskillen without planning permission has been fined.
Laurence Connor (59) of Rossdowney Road, Bellanaleck appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with not complying with an enforcement notice between December 21st 2017, and June 12th 2018.
The court heard Connor had built a jetty or decking area on the riverbank near Cornagrade in Enniskillen without obtaining planning permission.
The jetty appeared in May 2016 and in July 2016, he was invited to lodge planning permission. The first planning permission was lodged, but it was refused by the Council, and following this, an enforcement notice was sent out in September 2017.
Since then, planning has been approved on April 1st for half of the structure and approximately 50% of the jetty has to be taken away. Defence solicitor told the court that his client had a lifelong interest in river activities and had acquired the river bank four years ago.
Defence explained Connor paid £5,000 for the river bank, and has spent £10,000 to get it into the present condition which is a tasteful and decent structure and added he didn’t think he needed to obtain planning permission.
Defence said that Connor had followed procedure for planning which was refused adding that there was an oversight and the appeal was lodged a day out of time, and then the enforcement order took over.
The jetty has now been partially allowed, and a refined version of the structure has been granted with a reduction of 50%, and the defendant acknowledged that the removal will have to be dealt with.
Defence added that a resolution has been reached and half of it the structure has been lawfully put there.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said a substantial amount of the structure had to be removed and acknowledged that there had been a resolution, and Connor had agreed to work with the Council.
Connor was fined £250, and ordered to pay court costs of £36 and legal costs of £75.
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