A couple have been hit with a hefty fine after building an “unauthorised” extension to house more than 100 pigeons at their property.
Rifat Begum and Zahid Khan have been ordered to pay a combined total of over £6,000 after breaching a planning enforcement notice over the single-storey extension, outbuilding and storage of the birds at their home in Wexham, Buckinghamshire.
Neighbours had raised concerns over noise and disturbance from “constant cooing and fluttering”, odours and the burning of pigeon waste, Slough Borough Council said.
The local authority took Begum and Khan to court following a long-running dispute over the “unauthorised” extension, which saw the pair appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.
The Inspectorate, however, upheld the enforcement notice in full, describing the structures as being “incongruous” within the garden and “disproportionately large”.
It found that between 100 and 150 pigeons were being kept at the land and the commercial sales of the birds and pigeon food were taking place.
Evidence included on-site discussions, online advertisements and the presence of an online pigeon food sales linked to the defendants.
The inspector concluded the development caused “unacceptable harm” to neighbouring living conditions, noting the smell and remains of a bonfire in the garden.
More than 100 pigeons were found to be kept at the property
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SLOUGH BOROUGH COUNCIL
The “intrusive visual impact” of the structures was also highlighted.
The council visited the site in November of last year and confirmed that despite the conclusions of the Planning Inspectorate, the outbuilding remained in place with pigeons still present on the land.
The side extension had only recently been demolished, which was “significantly” beyond the deadline set by the enforcement notice.
At East Berkshire Magistrates’ Court on December 1, Begum and Khan both pleaded guilty to breaching a planning enforcement notice, Slough Borough Council said.
The pair were ordered to pay a combined £6,000 at East Berkshire Magistrates’ Court
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They were each fined £200, together with a victim surcharge of £120 and prosecution costs of £2,981.25, bringing the total financial penalty to £3,301.25 per defendant
The money will be deducted from the couple’s benefit payments.
Slough councillor Paul Kelly said: “This case represents a serious and long-standing breach of planning control that caused real harm to neighbours and the wider community.
“The Planning Inspectorate was clear that the unauthorised structures and intensive pigeon-keeping were harmful, intrusive and unacceptable.
“Despite every opportunity to comply, the defendants failed to take appropriate action.
“This successful prosecution demonstrates that enforcement notices are legal requirements, and the council will take firm action when there is planning harm, including harm to residents and the neighbouring amenity, and a statutory notice is not complied with.”