Couple fined for illegal pigeon extension

A couple who built an unauthorised extension and outbuilding in their garden for more than 100 pigeons have been fined more than £6,000.

Rifat Begum and Zahid Khan, of Quinbrookes, Slough, were told to remove the structures by Slough Borough Council and the Planning Inspectorate, which found they were "incongruous" in a suburban garden.

Neighbours complained about disturbances "from constant cooing and fluttering", the smell and the burning of pigeon waste, the council said.

The couple admitted breaching a council's planning enforcement notice.

Begum and Khan were both told to pay a £300 fine, a £120 victim surcharge and prosecution costs of £2,981.25, which will be taken from benefit deductions.

Paul Kelly, the council's lead for planning, said: "This case represents a serious and long-standing breach of planning control that caused real harm to neighbours and the wider community.

"The Planning Inspectorate was clear that the unauthorised structures and intensive pigeon-keeping were harmful, intrusive and unacceptable," he added.

"Despite every opportunity to comply, the defendants failed to take appropriate action.

This successful prosecution demonstrates that enforcement notices are legal requirements, and the council will take firm action when there is planning harm, including harm to residents and the neighbouring amenity."

The council said it would continue to monitor the property to ensure it was compliant with planning rules.