AN OXFORD Road supermarket has been slapped with heavy fines after repeatedly ignoring Council advice to remove an unauthorised extension.
Grosik Supermarket, at 324-326 Oxford Road, oversaw the building of a front extension without the necessary planning permission,and was subsequently warned by Reading Council planning enforcement officers that it needed to remove it in 2021.
Further enforcement notices were served by the council in both 2023 and 2024.
The Council was left with no option but to pursue the case through the courts, resulting in a hearing at Reading Magistrates Court on Friday, August 1.
While Grosik Reading Limited pleaded guilty at the hearing, magistrates stated that they considered the behaviour of Grosik to be particularly poor, having built something and then dragged its feet for years.
That the structure was harmful to the street scene on the Oxford Road was considered an aggravating factor, and set a bad example to other businesses.
They also took the view that the business had benefitted finanically as a result of the structure.
Magistrates fined the company £16,666, and ordered them to pay £2,000 in victim surcharge and prosecution costs of £1,605, bringing the total owed to the court to £20,271.
Micky Leng, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Planning, said:
“It’s a shame that, despite several warnings from planning officers, this local business chose to repeatedly ignore the Council and refused to dismantle what was an unauthorised structure which required planning permission.
“They will now have to pay a hefty price for that in the form of a substantial fine handed down by Reading Magistrates.
He explained: “Planning officers have an important role in helping to protect the local street scene.
“The Council does not want to see any local business fined or taken to court which is why when planning enforcement officers provide them with the opportunity to take action, they should respond promptly.
“Refusing to reply to letters or comply with notices will almost certainly have long-term consequences, which was the case in this instance.
“We would always advise any business if they are in any doubt about what may require planning permission to make contact with the Council in advance of any works taking place, or it could prove costly in the long term.”
