Failing to apply for planning permission has its risks. One such example will be debated at Thurday’s Development Control Committee at Walsall Council House.

A report on unauthorised use at 103 High Road, Lane Head, Willenhall will recommend to members that enforcement action be taken under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (As Amended), to require remedial action to be undertaken.

This time last year the site, which is prominent on High Road, Lane Head, was used as a shop and dwelling and the storage of touring caravans to the rear. Last summer it converted to vehicle sales and at one stage had a mobile Hot Food van operating from the site which is right by a bus stop, close to a major junction controlled by traffic lights and has a nursary school opposite.

The vehicle sales still operates, and at the time of writing information shows that the owners of the site have failed to request planning permission.

Enforcement action is being recommended by planning officers “By reason of the scale of the use for vehicle sales, and its impacts in terms of appearance,noise and disturbance, and over-spray of vehicle washing, the use is harmful to the level of visual amenity in the area, and harmful to the amenities of occupiers of dwellings in the vicinity. The use is therefore contrary to policies within the Walsall Unitary Development Plan.”

The owners of the site will be given 2 months to comply if members agree with the recommendation to take enforcement action.