Motorhome parked in A27 Hangleton link road can't be moved

It is parked in a layby in the Hangleton A27 link road and its owner is allegedly starting fires and cutting down nearby bushes.

But Brighton and Hove City Council has been left powerless as he is paying no attention to Section 77 notices demanding it is moved.

Council officials have been trying to enforce the notices in the courts, but no time has been found time to hear the case due to the pandemic.

Furious residents are contacting their ward councillors about the caravan, including Conservative Dawn Barnett.

She said: "This man has been living here for months and months and months.

"That layby is for people who need a rest from driving or workmen. The owner has cut all the bushes down and had bonfires.

"You can't park in a layby for months on end, the residents are fed up about it.

"If we were doing that we would be moved on straight away.

Councillor Dawn Barnett

"At the end of the day, they've given him two orders to move, they should say 'you go by tomorrow and if not we'll take it and scrap it'."

Council officials gave the owner chances to leave of his own accord. However, he has reportedly reneged on promises to do so on several occasions.

The owner was first served a Section 77 notice in March and again in early April.

However, these notices are enforced by the courts, which deems them "non-priority cases".

The number plate checker on the government's website shows the vehicle has been untaxed since March 2021 and its MOT expired in December 2017.

READ MORE: Antisocial behaviour reports involving caravans at Goring Gap

“We are committed to making sure the occupant vacates the land as soon as we can get the legal powers to enforce this," a council spokesman said.

“We have been working with the police, and have served legal notices on two previous occasions for these vehicles to be moved. These notices were ignored.

“Unfortunately due to the pandemic we have been unable to secure court time to be able to follow up on this.

“However, we are hopeful that the court will be able to deal with this issue soon.”

Labour councillor for North Portslade Peter Atkinson said: "I've been contacted by a large number of residents who use that road out of North Portslade in the morning and back in during the evening.

"I share the extreme frustration of council officers, it is a really unusual time, but the caravan needs to be gone.

"It's blocking the layby, preventing lorries from stopping if they need to. Hedges have been damaged and fires have been lit."