THE owner of a car showroom must pay almost £6,000 after being taken to court for breaking planning rules.

Bruce Paterson, owner of Benfleet Motors, in London Road, Benfleet, pleaded guilty to a charge of contravening a planning condition under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 at a hearing at Basildon Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Paterson was taken to court by Castle Point Council after exceeding the number of vehicles on display for sale at the premises, which is set at ten.

The court heard this was his fourth conviction for the same offence at these premises.

Magistrates fined Paterson £2,000 and ordered him to pay the council’s legal costs of £3,827 as well as a further victim surcharge of £120.

Pam Challis, council leader, said: “This sends out a stern message to anyone in the borough who continues to flout planning rules.”