A CHIP shop landlord has been fined £3,750 for not filing the right paperwork to put up a sign.

Barry Steele, of Finch Lane, Harvington, near Evesham, put up a sign reading ‘Island Fish Bar’ on the building he owns in Evesham, Worcester Magistrates Court was told.

He was convicted in his absence of not giving Wychavon District Council officers the correct paperwork when they served him with legal notices to remove the sign.

The chippy is at 4/5 Merstow Green, in Evesham, in a grade two-Iisted building. The sign needed both advertising consent and listed building consent under planning rules, but Mr Steele had applied for neither, according to the council.

Mr Steele, and tenant Thassos Frangeskou, who lives at the premises and runs the fish and chip business, were both told about the breaches in 2010.

An advertising application was submitted, but no plans were included, so it could not be approved by planners.

When planners sent both men two legal notices asking for more information, they went unanswered and the matter went to court.

Steele was fined £1,250 for displaying the unauthorised advertisement and £2,500 for not returning the requested information.

He was ordered to pay £1,083 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Mr Frangeskou, also charged with unlawfully displaying an advertisement, will appear before magistrates in July.

Graeme Duerden, Wychavon’s development control manager, said it was “extremely frustrating when people willingly ignore the advice and assistance of our officers”.

“We do not embark on court action unless absolutely necessary, but if you are prepared to breach planning and advertisement legislation then we will prosecute,” he said.

Wychavon’s planning team can be contacted on 01386 565565 or by e-mailing planning@wychavon.gov.uk