A Councillor has been prosecuted after carrying out alterations to a Grade II listed building without permission from Wealden District Council.

Cllr Barby Dashwood-Morris, of the Priest House, Church Lane, Hellingly, pleaded guilty to six charges of causing works to be executed, for the alteration of the Grade II listed building, without obtaining the proper consent from the Council. She was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay £40,000 in costs.

In addition, Alan Proudfoot, of Goult in France pleaded guilty to four charges of making alterations to a listed building. He was fined £48,000 with £40,000 in costs.

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Cllr Dashwood-Morris, who was chairman of Wealden District Council’s Planning Committee South from 2011 until 2013, was prosecuted for causing "irreversible changes" to the 14th Century building, known as The Priest House in Hellingly.

The alterations included the creation of a full height entrance hall through removal of ceilings and partitions, affecting the area for where there is anecdotal evidence for a priest hole; glazing of a partition; and removal of the barley twist bannisters and associated bannister rail to the staircase and replacing them with glazed panels.

Kelvin Williams, the council's Head of Planning and Environmental Services, said the changes were only discovered when the owners attempted to sell the property.

"Owners of historic properties should be aware of their responsibilities to the property and future generations," he said.

"We will take action when necessary to protect the important heritage of our District."

(LM)