HOMEOWNERS have celebrated a victory after a decade-long campaign of complaints against an “eyesore” caravan.
Residents of a small town were left fuming by the use of the van as a tiny home despite a lack of planning permission and “proper sewerage facilities”.
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Locals of Llanidloe, Wales, begged the council for years to force Steven Bullock to move the motorhome off his property.
They claimed that the dwelling was an “eyesore” and that the area around it was in a sorry state, reports the Shropshire Star.
A photo of the van, sitting on the driveway of a house in the town, shows it surrounded by bins and other debris.
In documents submitted to the council one resident, Susan Hinds, wrote: “The caravan is dilapidated and the area around it looks like a scrap yard and is an eyesore.”
As a result, officials issued a notice in August 22 ordering Mr Bullock to stop using the van as a residential dwelling without planning permission.
He was given nine months to comply or face formal action.
But the tenant disputed the order, lodging an official appeal.
Mr Bullock argued that he no enforcement could legally be carried out as he had lived on the site for more than 10 years.
He also pointed to the fact that he had paid council tax on the van and had received housing benefit while living there as proof that it was officially sanctioned as his home.
However, a report from planning inspector Richard Jenkins assessing the appeal has now concluded that there was “no documentary evidence” to back up Mr Bullock’s claims.
The appeal was rejected with the caveat that Mr Jenkins urged the council to alter its notice to reflect the fact that it was only ordering Mr Bullock to stop living in the van, not for it to be removed from the driveway.
He said: “The council was subsequently advised that the precise wording of the notice would not in fact require the cessation of the use of the caravan as a separate and independent residential dwelling but rather requires, the cessation of the use of the caravan for residential purposes more generally.
“Whilst the difference in wording may appear subtle, it would have distinctly different implications.”
The council has now changed the wording, meaning the notice is back in force, much to the delight of the neighbours.
