FORMER Forest of Dean District Councillor Alastair Fraser has been fined for failing to comply with a planning enforcement notice which required him to move a timber chalet from his land in Alvington, but he is vowing to fight on to keep the building.

The mobile home, at Severnwye Farm, Spout Hill, Alvington, was the subject of a dispute with the Forest Council's, and Mr Fraser pleaded guilty at Stroud Magistrates' Court last week to failing to comply with the enforcement notice which ordered him to remove the illegal building.

The court heard that on March 25 2013, when the council's senior planning enforcement officer attended the site, a chalet type mobile home had been delivered and a concrete slab laid to support it. Subsequently the mobile home was erected, furnished and connected to services.

A council spokeswoman said: "An enforcement notice was served on Mr Fraser on April 12 2013 alleging that he had, without planning permission, changed the use of the site from agricultural to a mixed use for agriculture and residential.

"Mr Fraser appealed against the enforcement notice, but it was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate in January 2014 and the notice was varied to give him 12 months to comply by removing the mobile home, restoring the land to its former condition and to permanently cease the use of the land for residential use.

"However, in March 2015 it was noted that none of the requirements of the enforcement notice had been complied with."

Magistrates fined Mr Fraser £110 and he was ordered to pay £75 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Leader of the council Cllr Patrick Molyneux, (Con, Hewelsfield and Woolaston) said: "It is extremely disappointing that Mr Fraser has not complied with the requirements of the notice despite the additional time afforded by the planning inspector to do so.

The council does not take legal action lightly, but is faced with a position where there is a clear breach of an enforcement notice and no indication from the owners that they intend to comply with it." He added: "The council will now review the position to determine whether any further steps and measures are necessary to enforce the requirements of the notice."

But a defiant Mr Fraser has vowed to fight on with his case for the chalet on his property, and is steadfastly refusing to remove it.

He told the Review: "The court did not have time to hear the mitigating circumstances to my case, so I decided to plead guilty and take the fine instead.

"I have instructed a team of top barristers and solicitors to fight my case at an appeal which will be heard later on this year."

He added: "The district council planning department is a total mess. I have spent over £40,000 in fighting them, and it just goes on and on."

Mr Fraser was an elected member of the Forest of Dean District Council between May 2007 and May 2011.

He became known across the district for his llama walking business, his ownership of camels, and his outspoken criticism of district and parish councils in the area.