A FORMER mayor of Test Valley has been hit with a hefty fine for breaching a planning enforcement notice for the second time in two years. 

Martin Hatley, who was mayor from 2019 to 2021, and Trevor Hatley were prosecuted by Test Valley Borough Council over the notice issued on June 11 2020. 

Martin Hatley, 70, of Baddesley Road, North Baddesley, and Trevor Hatley, 76, of the same road, must pay more than £4,000 each. 

Both men pleaded not guilty. However they were found guilty at Southampton Magistrates Court and sentenced on July 5. 

The court heard that between August 25 2021 and May 10 2024, they they did not cease to use land adjacent to Wheelhouse Park, North Baddesley, for storage. They also failed to demolish and remove buildings and fencing and failed to take up hardstanding and level and seed the area as specified by the enforcement notice. 

The pair must each pay a fine of £3,000, victim surcharge of £190 and costs of £940.60. This has to be paid by August 2. 

They were last convicted in September 2022 for breaching a planning enforcement notice at the same site while Martin Hatley was still a councillor. Following that, he was expelled from the authority and his former ward of Ampfield and Braishfield was won by Lib Dem Sally Yalden last year. 

As well as being a former mayor of Test Valley, Martin Hatley was on the southern area planning committee for many years. 

A spokesperson for Test Valley Borough Council, said: “We take breaches of planning control seriously, and will investigate if it is believed that someone has not acted in accordance with planning law. If, following our investigation, we determine that there has been a breach, then this may lead to enforcement action and may ultimately end up in court, as happened with this particular case.”