Help wanted please re getting an old decrepit van removed

[Vivkins3]

We live in a very rural area opposite a field (designated as agricultural use) on which the owner wanted to build. We, along with about 30+ other houses, objected to the proposal, wanting to keep the area rural. The proposal was subsequently turned down.

The owner wasn't best pleased about this and threateningly told my husband that he was going to appeal the decision and that if he didn't get his own way he was going to "tear down the hedgerow, put up a 6 foot high corrugated iron fence and sell the land to gipsys on the condition that they made out life hell." He went on to say that "we might as well move now".

We reported the threats to the police and the local council but nobody was interested.

In January, his appeal was turned down and he went ahead and destroyed a lovely hedgerow but was obviously advised that he couldn't legally erect a 6 foot high corrugated iron fence as he hasn't done so. He did however, erect (directly opposite us) a fence made up of old pallets, as ugly as could be. In due course it started to fall down and a neighbour removed the old pallets. We went away on holiday in June and when we got home, the owner had dumped an old white transit van opposite our entrance adjacent to the road. It shows a tax disc which ran out January 2008.

I realise that the vehicle is on private land but does anybody have any suggestions how we can get this eyesore removed please?

I don't know if a SORN has been registered but it occurs to me that, whilst the vehicle is on private land, it must have come via public road.

My husband has reported it to the police and the council but nothing has been done about it yet.

Any ideas please?

[Androcles]

I am afraid that these situations are only dealt with by persistence, you have to be more persistent than your anti-social neighbour and the council. Firstly, I suggest that you have to become the proverbial stone in the shoe of the council. Got to every single relevant council meeting (Parish, District and County) (or unitary authority) and raise the issue that a hedge has been destroyed and that untaxed vehicles are being parked, what are they doing about protecting the green belt etc, and take some of the other thirty with you. Back your verbal protests in writing and find out who your local paper reporters are an keep feeding them with relevant stories -( most of them come the end of preparation for publication are scrabbling round for stories!I I must say my experience is that people say they are right behind you, but leave you wondering how far behind! Get your binoculars out!

As I said it is a lonely road, and you have to decide if the aggro is worth it, but if you don't make a stand where does it end - two vans, three, gypsy encampment.....?

Make sure you know your local structure plan and what is intended for the development of the area and the planning policies of the council - there are usually some things that are arguable (eg This in contravention of Council policy SG16 or whatever of the development plan - you'll find something!)

Good luck

[Skyline D]

If the vehicle is SORN and sitting on private land then I'm not sure whatyou can do to get it removed? Even if it did come by public road (which you clearly can't prove - could it not conceivably have been on the back of a trailer?) then all that could happen would be a fine, it doesn't change the fact the vehicle is presumably legal where it is.

[Vivkins3]

Is there a way to find out if it has been registered with a SORN please? IF it hasn't, to whom do I report it please?

Incidentally, the ownder of the field doesn't live locally - he lives about 20 miles away.

[Skyline D]

You don't need to report it. It's self fulfilling.

Either he's taxed the vehicle, he's declared it SORN, he's declared it scrapped or he's already getting fines for it because the system automatically generates them if he hasn't done one of the above.

[cassa333]

If there were 30 others objecting why has he targeted you?

Are you as much a pain in his @rs as he is in yours?

Anyway There isn't much you can do apart from the advice already given as well as keep records of any harrasment or threats.

Although it could inflame the situation I might be tempted to go to the press, local or national. Although this might make him sell to the gypsies...

[Vivkins3]

Skyline - There is a possibility, even a probability, that it has been declared as scrapped. What would be the implications here please? I say this is possible because one of the "accomodation addresses" he uses is actually a scrap yard, so he has contacts in the scrap business. How do I find out please?

Cassa - he is probably targetting us because we are the only property directly opposite his field and most affected by his shenanigans. I can't be a pain in his posterior because I don't actually know where he lives. I do know of at least two accomodation addresses he uses on his applications - I have googled him and he has made applications to build on another field in another borough - I believe he actually lives in a caravan on that field.

I don't really want to go to the press because I don't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he has upset us.

[marval]

It also might be a good idea to contact your loacl MP.

[Vivkins3]

Yes I think I will contact my MP.

In the short term though, is there anything I can do to get the van removed? What would be the situation legally if the van has been declared scrapped? I think there is a possibility that is the case.

I am under no illusions that he WILL sell to gipsies. My hope is that as the field backs onto an infants school and a Day Care Centre for Cerebral Palsy, the council would swiftly remove any settlers there. The field does not have "residential" status and now that the owner has destroyed the hedgerow, the site is fully visible.

Any ideas how I find out about the status of the van please, whether it has been scrapped or SORNed?

[hc4361]

Phone the DVLA with the registration number.
http://www.dvla.gov.uk/contactus/vehicles_enqu ires.aspx

[Vivkins3]

Thanks for that link.

There has been a development. My husband telephoned the police again and they are now saying that as it is on private land, the council might NOT get it removed. However, the police checked the registered owner of the vehicle (a fork-lift firm in a local town) and the MD says that as far as he is aware, the van was sold some time ago.

Obviously the DVLA were not notified and the police are now awaiting hearing from that MD as to whether it WAS sold or not. The tax on it ran out 18 months ago (January 2008).

So does anybody know what the implications are now please?

[tamborine]

If the land is surrounded by homes, school & day care centre it is prime land for development. What is the acreage; is it viable to earn its agricultural keep?

Be thankful its not used for tipping - then you really will know problems. It could even be used as a scrap yard - sounds like NIMBY - okay for you to live there but not others?

[Vivkins3]

Certainly NIMBY - we and others bought into the countryside and want to keep it that way. It's a rural area outside the confines of the village but this particular field backs onto a school and Cerebral Palsy Daycare centre.

Is there something wrong with wanting to keep the countryside rural?