Full-time ‘Van Lifer’ parked-up in Shropshire woodland told he must leave

A man living in his motorhome in woodland on the Shropshire border has been told he must move, the Shropshire Star has reported.

Martin Pugh lost an appeal to use the land near Whitchurch for his motorhome after Wrexham County Borough Council served an enforcement notice in December 2021 for unauthorised change of use of land.

Now planning inspector Tony Thickett has backed the council and given Mr Pugh three months to leave.

Mr Pugh told the inspector that he was not considered homeless but although he was on the council’s housing waiting list he did not have enough ‘points’ to be housed immediately.

His representative said he had gone through personal issues which has left him in the position he was in and could not afford to buy or rent a property.

The inspector said: “I have seen no evidence of income or property prices. I note Mr Pugh’s family links to Bronington but have not read anything to demonstrate that it is essential for him to live there.

“I have taken into account that the result of the notice is that Mr Pugh will no longer be able to use the appeal site as a place to live in his motorhome and could be homeless.

“However, should the time period for the notice be extended there seems to be no guarantee that Mr Pugh’s circumstances will be any different.”

Mr Thickett said that three months was a reasonable time to find brick and mortar accommodation or to secure an authorised pitch for his motorhome.

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