A Poyle farm owner has asked the High Court to overturn a government inspectors decision confirming an order, issued by Slough Borough Council, barring him from recycling concrete on his land.
The farmer, Cecil Wiggins, is appealing against the inspectors decision of May 2000 to uphold an August 1999 enforcement notice in respect of the operation at Poyle Manor Farm on Poyle Road. The notice ordered Wiggins to cease using his land for the recycling of waste materials – mainly concrete – without planning permission.
A temporary planning permission for the recycling operation expired on 1 April 1998, but Wiggins claims that the use was lawful in any case, even before that permission was granted in 1995.
His counsel, Christopher Katkowski QC, argued before Collins J that Wiggins had used the land for recycling concrete since around 1978, meaning that there had been continued use for over 10 years. He therefore claimed that the operation was not unlawful.
The hearing continues.
PLS News 4/12/00
