Five people have been ordered to pay a total of nearly £70,000 after illegally demolishing the Punch Bowl Inn - and have been told to rebuild the pub within a year.
Ribble Valley Borough Council, which brought the case to court, said the grade II listed pub on Longridge Road, Hurst Green, was razed to the ground unlawfully on June 15, 2021.
A trial last year at Burnley Magistrates' Court, found Andrew Donelan, 61, Nicola Donelan, 59, and Rebecca Donelan, 29, all of Carr Hall, Whalley New Road, Wilpshire; David Cotterell, 58, of Percliff Way, Philips Road, Blackburn; and Brian Ingleby, 70, Hollowhead Avenue, Wilpshire, unlawfully demolished the pub.
Andrew Donelan, Nicola Donelan, Cotterell and Ingleby were also found guilty of failing to notify the local authority of the intended demolition.
Today (March 8) at Blackburn Magistrates' Court, District Judge Alex Boyd handed the group a total fine of £22,250, prosecution costs of £44,650 and a £2,225 surcharge - a total payment owed of £69,125.
Andrew Donelan was fined £2,000, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £2,000 and a surcharge of £200.
Nicola Donelan was fined £1,000, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,000, and a surcharge of £100.
Rebecca Donelan was fined £250, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £250, and a surcharge of £25.
The company, Donelan Trading Limited, which is operated by Andrew and Nicola, was fined £12,000, ordered to pay a contribution to the prosecution of £20,000 and a surcharge of £1,200.
Brian Ingleby was fined £1,000, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,000 and a surcharge of £100.
David Cotterell was fined £400, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £400 and a surcharge of £40.
Percliff Plant and Haulage Limited, run by Ingleby and Cotterell, received a fine of £5,600, were ordered to pay £20,000 toward prosecution costs and a £560 surcharge.
READ MORE: Five people guilty of illegally demolishing Punch Bowl Inn
While criminal proceedings have been ongoing, Donelan Trading Limited was sent a notification order by the planning inspectorate to rebuild the pub.
The company tried to appeal the civil order, but this was rejected just five days ago.
The failed appeal, which was judged by the planning inspectorate, means the company must rebuild the pub within 12 months and must ensure the internal and external of the building are in line with the plans attached to the notice.
This will include the company being required to go through the rubble with experts and work out what there is and what is reusable.
Of that, they must submit what they determine to be reusable to the council.
Any materials they do not have, they must source similar materials which must be approved before use.
The planning inspectorate also ordered that full costs incurred by the council must be repaid.
Donelan Trading Limited has estimated a cost of £1.5million to rebuild the site to its original specifications.
During the trial, the court was told there was ‘no need’ to demolish the pub by Gez Pegram, director at the construction engineering company Mason Clark Associates.
READ MORE: Workmen were spotted at the Punch Bowl Inn earlier this week
The defence tried to argue the building needed to be demolished due to structural issues however the judge said that, although the building was in a bad state, he was 'unconvinced' it needed to be demolished as it was.
Representing the council, Killian Garvey said that the council understood that the family would face high costs following the order to rebuild the pub and that this could be taken into account in the fine.
Mr Garvey said: “Given the defendants have to rebuild the building, we understand they will have financial burdens in that effect.
“That will also reinstate some of the planning harm that has been caused.
“The council would say that a listed building that has been demolished and rebuilt will not have the same character as if it were just left.”
He also said that in an email exchange just days before the demolition, Nicola Donelan was informed that demolishing the building was a criminal offence.
The council also attempted to work with the family about the proper procedures to take given the state of the building prior to the demolition but this was ‘ignored’.
Mitigating for the group, David Lawson, said that the building, which has been derelict since 2012, was in a ‘dangerous’ state and that the family feared that the chimney breast would fall into the road and could kill a passing motorist.
READ MORE: Council speak out following verdict in Punch Bowl Inn trial
Mr Lawson said that the group spoke to the council, Historical England and experts about what to do but say that ‘nobody was helping’ and they needed to deal with the building.
While the building was there, Andrew Donelan had to call the fire service a number of times after people went in and set fires and items were stolen from the building.
He added that the Donelan’s intentions were ‘good’ and ‘commendable’ by demolishing the building and that matters will be ‘alleviated’ due to the civil order to rebuild.
District Judge Alex Boyd told the group that it was important to show punishment and deterrent to illegal demolitions.
Judge Boyd said: "This prosecution follows the demolition without authorisation of the Punch Bowl Inn on June 15, 2021.
"The purpose of these requirements is to protect the building for current and future generations to enjoy."
The companies each have 56 days to pay the fine. The individuals have three months to pay their fines.
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