Unauthorised vehicles removed from Yapton property

Arun District Council (ADC) acted on Thursday, June 16, following ‘numerous complaints from neighbours and Yapton Parish Council’, who have been in a long-standing battle with the occupants of Two Hoots in Bilsham Road, over the number of unauthorised cars parked at the property.

A planning enforcement notice was served in August 2014, restricting the number of vehicles to four in the driveway at the front of the house, and no more than two in the rear garden.

There had been more than 20 vehicles at the property previously, ADC said.

An appeal against the notice was made the following month but was dismissed in April 2015.

Monitoring of the property revealed the number of vehicles parked in the back garden had been reduced, but still failed to comply with the enforcement notice.

On Thursday morning, planning enforcement officers from the council attended with a warrant to gain entry, granted from Worthing Magistrates’ Court, and a total of 11 unauthorised vehicles were removed.

The council wants to recover the cost of the operation and has the power to force the sale of the house, or put a charge on the land if the money is not paid.

Councillor Ricky Bower, cabinet member for planning and infrastructure, said: “The vast majority of people get on well with their neighbours so taking direct action to resolve the situations is not something the council takes lightly.

“In this instance it was important to take this measure to protect the environment.

“The council has a number of other sites where it may be necessary to carry out work and I hope other landowners will ensure they comply with their enforcement notices.”

Further action is also being considered regarding other breaches of planning control at the property, Arun said.

The enforcement notice remains in place and if it is breached again the council will ‘consider further causes of action, including obtaining an injunction’.

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