Warndon dad banned from parking Ford Transit Landliner on drive

Mike Perkins has parked his 1972 Ford Transit Landliner CI Motorhome 'pride and joy', on his drive in Cranham Drive in Warndon for the last 14 years.

The father-of-three has now locked horns with Worcester City Council in a legal fight for the right to park on his own driveway after they said they had received complaints about the condition of the drive.

Now the 63-year-old homeowner claims he has been told he is not allowed to park the on the driveway of his end terrace house because it damages 'the amenity of the area'.

VALUE: The Ford Transit Landliner CI Motorhome now parked on Cranham Drive in Warndon is of great sentimental value to its owner, Michael Perkins, who is now banned from parking the campervan on his own drive (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Mr Perkins said the only person on the council to help him has been Conservative councillor Owen Cleary while his neighbours have also shown him their support.

He said: "My initial thoughts were this is 'David and Goliath' and I'm David.

"If someone said to you you could not park on your own drive, what would you do?

"I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place. I can't understand the lengths they are going to."

STAND: Mike Perkins has been representing himself at court for his right to park his vintage campervan on his own drive - he says he is now forced to park it in Cranham Drive itself, taking up a parking space which could be used by someone else (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

His immediate neighbours called it ridiculous and another hailed the vintage camper a local landmark.

In documents seen by Worcester News, the council said it received 'numerous complaints about the appearance of the front garden' due to the 'dilapidated vehicle' which has been assessed as 'having a detrimental effect on local amenity'.

A complaint was received on August 6, 2020 about the untidy nature of the land, the council has said in official documents.

CLASSIC: The motorhome is considered a classic by its owner and some of his neighbours, pictured here parked in Cranham Drive as it is no longer permitted to be on his drive (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

The notice, served under section 2015 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, ordered Mr Perkins to improve the condition of the front garden by November 20 last year.

FLASHBACK: A photo of Mike Perkins' drive in Cranham Drive sent to him in Worcester City Council documents before he removed the campervan (Image: Worcester City Council)

However, he has appealed against the notice and is due to have the civil case heard in another court hearing next month, representing himself.

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He said: "The irony is that during it's restoration, I received much support from passers-by.

This project is now more about the right to park your own vehicle on your own driveway."

Mr Perkins has lodged an appeal against the notice served by Worcester City Council on August 17 last year. He was warned the notice comes into effect on September 20 last year and he had two months to comply.

The appeal was lodged by Mr Perkins on September 10 last year. 

A spokesperson for Worcester City Council said it took action after receiving a complaint and has visited the site.

“We spoke to the owner about the problem but were unable to reach an agreement for the area to be tidied.

“Council officers issued a tidy-up notice which required the vehicle and trailer to be removed from the driveway and the waste to be tidied up. The owner has made an appeal against the tidy-up notice and we are awaiting the outcome of it.

“This matter has been handled under normal council procedures. No individual councillors are involved in decisions to progress enforcement cases.”