News

Father and son ran illegal skip business

By Jon Nurse
May 31, 2012

A father and son who operated an illegal skip hire business from a rural site in Arborfield have pleaded guilty to a series of planning breaches.

Leslie Dunn Sr and Leslie Dunn Jr failed to comply with planning enforcement notices for unauthorised use of land in Eversley Road, Arborfield Cross.

They will be sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Friday, July 13.

Wokingham Borough Council brought the case to court after the pair failed to deal with notices challenging operations on their property, including a skip hire business.

Dunn Sr, 54, of Eversley Road, Arborfield Cross, as landowner, pleaded guilty to two counts of planning breaches in April and May 2010 in Reading Crown Court on Wednesday, May 23.

Dunn Jr, 30, of Reading Road, Winnersh, pleaded guilty to six counts of breaches from April 2010 to February 2011 as he was in charge of the land.

A planning enforcement notice from the council states the pair also used the land, without planning permission, to store tyres, vehicles – including boats – a portable building and storage of waste.

The council stated in the enforcement notice that this was not appropriate for the rural area.

Judge John Reddihough said in court last week he would issue the pair with a community order or a fine after further consideration of their financial situation.

The sentence was adjourned to give the men time to provide details about their means and assets.

The father and son were granted bail, subject to them keeping their appointments with probation officers, and agreed to a site visit in the coming weeks.

Debbie Dunn, 55, of Eversley Road, and Dunaways Ltd, a car spares business based in Eversley Road and operated by the Dunn family, were also due to face charges in the trial.

However the prosecution agreed the charges should remain on file following the guilty plea from the father and son.

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