A NURSERY owner has been fined £1,200 for knocking down a wall in front of a listed building, writes Local Democracy Reporter Chris McKeon.

Suzanne Scott, owner of the Sandfield Natural Play Centre in Whiston, admitted demolishing the wall in front of Sandfield House, the nursery’s Grade II listed building, in June 2017.

The nursery has been operating for 10 years from the Georgian house in Lickers Lane, which it describes as providing “a flexible and deceptively spacious learning environment over three floors”.

Knowsley Council’s planning department ordered her to repair the wall by March 2019, using “suitable materials”.

However, when she failed to do so the council launched a prosecution, with Scott first appearing in court in September alongside her husband, Alex.

St Helens Star:

The wall at Sandfield Natural Play Centre, Lickers Lane, Whiston, before it was knocked down in June 2017. Picture: Google Streetview

The case against Mr Scott was later discontinued, but Mrs Scott pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the council’s listed building enforcement notice on January 10 and was sentenced on Thursday.

She must now pay the £1,200 fine and a victim surcharge of £120, and is still yet to repair the wall to an acceptable standard.

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A spokesperson for Knowsley Council said the council would “work with the nursery’s owners to ensure the work is completed, meeting the listed building requirements”.

A council officer also told members of Knowsley’s planning committee on Thursday evening: “Whilst the owner has now made an attempt to rebuild the wall subject to the notice, the works are unsatisfactory, and there continues to be a number of planning breaches at the property.

“Officers continue to work with the owners to ensure that all unauthorised works on the site are addressed, and a suitable resolution is reached.”

The committee later heard that the council is taking action against the owner of the former National Tyres site in Kemble Street in Prescot for using the area for unauthorised storage.

The officer told councillors: “The owner has made a considerable effort to tidy up the site, removing a lot of materials, including scrap vehicles, tyres, and other assorted waste. 

“However, not to the extent required to comply with the notice.”

The owner, 66-year-old Alan Healy of Rainhill, pleaded not guilty to breaching an enforcement notice and will go to trial in March.