THE owner of a Brierley Hill car wash who flouted planning laws has been hit with a court bill of almost £2,000.

Alan Emani, of High Street, Brierley Hill, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on June 20, where he pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the requirements of a planning enforcement notice.

The car wash, on Level Street, had planning permission but with conditions which Emani admitted he had ignored by failing to ensure adequate drainage was put in place and that advertisements which were not permitted were removed from around the site.

A planning enforcement notice was served on the business in July 2013 but the business continued to operate without making the required changes.

Magistrates fined Emani £1,000, ordered him to pay costs of £708.42 and a £60 victim surcharge. This gave him a total court bill of £1,768.42.

Councillor Judy Foster, Dudley cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “It is vitally important that people gain planning consent for any business they are operating in the Dudley borough. Our planning officers will work with people to resolve issues but if planning enforcement notices are ignored we will be left with no option but to take a court prosecution.”

The business on Level Street is still running as a car wash and Dudley Planning Authority says it will take owners back to court if they fail to ensure the required drainage is installed.