Two Headland residents were taken to court by Hartlepool Borough Council over their modern window frames before the case was finally dropped after 10 months.

Karen Ewen, 48, and 82-year-old Gwynneth Fletcher, whose homes lie within the Headland Conservation Area, were prosecuted by the council for not removing uPVC windows they had fitted and for not restoring them to their previous condition.

They were required to attend Teesside Magistrates’ Court, in Middlesbrough, on several occasions since October last year.

The pair were each set to fight a charge of breaching a council enforcement notice - with their lawyer due to argue that about 140 homes on the Headland have the same type of windows yet had not been prosecuted.

Strict planning controls apply to parts of the Headland Conservation Area.

placeholder image — Strict planning controls apply to parts of the Headland Conservation Area.

But at the fifth and final hearing earlier this month, council solicitor Gemma Redfern said: “After long discussions with the council I have been instructed to withdraw proceedings today.”

A Hartlepool Borough Council spokesperson later said: “As stated during the court proceedings, the council determined that it was no longer in the public interest to continue with this prosecution.

“Decisions relating to individual legal proceedings are taken after consideration of all relevant circumstances and it would not be appropriate to comment further on the details of a specific case.”

However, the local authority says the decision “does not represent any change in the council's planning policies or its approach to protecting the character and appearance of Hartlepool's conservation areas”.

The case was listed five times at Teesside Magistrates' Court.

It added: “Each case is assessed on its own individual merits and enforcement action is considered in accordance with planning legislation, the evidence available and the public interest.”

Not all homes within the Headland Conservation Area require planning permission for minor alterations such as replacement windows.

The council says planning controls vary depending on the location and circumstances of each property.

The spokesperson added: “Hartlepool Borough Council remains committed to safeguarding the unique character of the Headland and all of the borough's conservation areas.

“We recognise the importance of preserving the area's heritage whilst working constructively with residents to help them understand and meet their planning responsibilities.

“We would encourage residents to seek advice from the council before installing replacement windows or carrying out any alterations to properties within a conservation area to ensure any works are lawful and respectful of the area's historic character.”