An Amman Valley woman has been prosecuted for failing to take down an unauthorised stable block.

Linda Martin Thomas, of Cwmaman Road in Glanaman, appeared before Carmarthen Magistrates to admit an offence contrary to Section 179 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

The court was told that Thomas was initially served with a Planning Contravention Notice for breaching of planning control regulations by putting up a stable block on land near Penywaun off Grenig Road.

She submitted a retrospective planning application which was subsequently refused and as a result was served with a Planning Enforcement Notice on August 31, 2012.

The notice required that she removed the unauthorised stable block, material that formed the hard standing where it was sited, and required her to return the land to its former state.

Thomas appealed the enforcement notice but the Welsh Planning Inspectorate dismissed the appeal and upheld the notice requirements. The Inspector did however extend the time for compliance.

The court heard that on February 14 Carmarthenshire County Council enforcement officer visited Thomas on site and discovered that she had failed to comply with the notice. She requested a further time extension, which was agreed.

However, when the officer visited again on May 20 the stable block remained, although part of it has been demolished, and the resulting materials still remained on the land.

The hard standing was still in place the land has not been reverted back to its former state.

As a result Thomas was prosecuted.

Magistrates fined her £180, and ordered her to pay £100 towards prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £20.

She was reminded that while she has taken down one of the stable blocks others remained in situ.

She was warned that failure to comply with the Enforcement Notice would see her re-prosecuted.

Executive board member for environmental and public protection, Councillor Jim Jones said: “The local planning authority will investigate all breaches of planning control.

“We will not accept flagrant disregard of planning legislation.”