A WOMAN has been jailed after failing to pay a £167k fine issued after she flouted an order to remove stables and a mobile home that had been illegally built on green belt land in Alvechurch, near Bromsgrove.

Tracie Carter, of Aqueduct Lane, was handed a 12-month prison sentence by magistrates at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court last month – 18 months after the initial fine of £167,378 was imposed.

The 52-year-old had unsuccessfully applied in 2004 for planning permission to build six stables on land in Aqueduct Lane but she continued to develop the site although the scheme was rejected.

A mobile home with decking for residential use was installed on the site and a large stable block built along with a manege, haystore, fencing and gates and vehicle access.

Bromsgrove District Council said it was evident from site visits that Ms Carter had moved into the mobile home and was renting out the stables and equine facilities to a third party.

The matter wound up in court and the fine was issued after she failed to comply with a planning enforcement notice ordering removal of the structures.

Then on November 1, 2023, a 12-month suspended sentence was meted out as the judge was not satisfied that all efforts had been made to pay the hefty fine.

Finally, the prison sentence was activated on May 20, 2024, after Ms Carter was still found to have failed to make all efforts to pay, with court papers noting the land had not been sold.

Simon Wilkes, head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS), said of the case: “Bromsgrove District Council will not tolerate breaches of notices and its planning officers will continue to work with their enforcement colleagues at WRS to ensure planning decisions are adhered to.”

Bromsgrove District Council’s head of planning Ruth Bamford added: “Bromsgrove District has a lot of green belt which is important to protect from harmful development.”