Fine for Oxford Road Shopkeeper After Council Action

AN Oxford Road business has been fined and ordered to remove a roller shutter in front of its premises after successful planning enforcement action by the Council.

Following a random inspection of Oxford Road shopfronts by Reading Council planning officers in 2023, the shop owner and leaseholder of 185 Oxford Road were advised that they should remove a roller shutter attached to the front of the shop and that they needed to apply for advertising consent for signage erected in what is a Conservation Area. The shop keeper was additionally advised that to prevent criminal risk an internal roller shutter could be installed.

After ignoring the Council’s initial advice and subsequent written warnings, the Council served what is known as a section 172 enforcement notice in April 2024, which required the business to comply by removing the shutter and signage. The notice was also ignored, resulting in court appearance on 11 July at Reading Magistrates Court.

A guilty plea was entered by the business in court and the company – J&B Charcoal Limited - was fined £666, ordered to pay the surcharge of £266 and prosecution cost of £1,505. The total owed to the court is £2,437 and must be paid within 28 days.

Magistrates additionally emphasised to the company that the shutter and sign must be removed.

Cllr Micky Leng. Lead Councillor for Planning at Reading Borough Council, said:

 “The Council does not want to see any local business taken to court, which is why this firm was advised on multiple occasions to remove this roller shutter before any court action was taken. It’s unfortunate that they chose to ignore the advice resulting in the subsequent Magistrates Court hearing and a substantial fine.

 “Planning legislation is in place to promote and preserve the character of our High Streets and help retain a sense of place. Individual shopfronts can have a major impact on the streetscape, shaping the experience and perceptions of residents and visitors to our communities.

 “While they have a purpose, roller shutters are an unattractive addition to Conservation Areas and will be strictly controlled by the Council’s planning enforcement team. A well-designed shopfront is one of the most effective advertisements to residents and visitors and considerable money has been invested in the Oxford Road-Russell Street-Castle Hill Conservation Area. We will continue to encourage shop owners to make physical improvements to shopfronts incrementally, because small changes over time can bring about significant positive change and visual benefit for all.

 “Officers have worked proactively on this case and have seen it through to a court outcome. This should send a message to all communities that to not co-operate with the Council leads to much-avoidable criminal and financial consequences of their own making.”

 Reading Borough Council’s Supplementary Planning Document ‘Design Guide for Shopfronts’ was adopted in January 2022 to promote and preserve our high streets’ character and sense of place.

New developments will likely result in action being taken where there is no co-operation by shop owners with older existing shutters ‘planned- out’ when appropriate to do so.