A TRADER was threatened with enforcement action for protecting his shop from thieves and vandals.

Mr Mamun had installed security shutters at the front of his shop under renovation in Ellesmere Port, after coming under siege from criminals.

But he hadn’t first applied for planning permission.

Back in August, the borough council decided to take enforcement action against him following complaints from neighbours about his premises at 32-38 Station Road.

However, Mr Mamun has now replaced the controversial solid lath curtain shutters with a natural galvanised finish, with more acceptable-looking ones which comply with local planning laws. As a result, the council will take no further action against him.

The matter, outlined in a planning committee report, told how Mr Mamun sought help in the matter from architectural consultant Keith Major, based in Little Sutton.

In a letter to the council, he explained: “Mr Mamun installed the shutters to his shop front in an effort to deter the constant thievery and vandalism he was experiencing during the construction process.

“He felt it was necessary to provide security to the large sections of window glass that make up the new shop front.

“The (initial) shutters were a replica of those on the original building and similar to the protection over the majority of adjacent units.”

However, when told that galvanised steel shutters are not allowed under planning law, Mr Mamun agreed ‘at considerable expense to himself’ to replace them with smaller colour powder-coated individual shutters, which are permitted, added Mr Major.

He added Mr Mamun had only been trying to improve the present ‘down-market street scene’.