ENFORCEMENT action taken by Powys County Council against a caravan being used as a home in Llanidloes and described as an “eyesore” by neighbours can now take place.

An appeal against a the notice issued by Powys planners to stop the use of the caravan as a home without the required planning permission, has been thrown out by a Welsh Government planning inspector.

The report of detailing the decision by planning inspector Richard Jenkins for the appeal by Steven Bullock of Craigle, Llanidloes was presented and noted by councillors at a meeting of the council’s Planning committee on 19 September.

The notice was issued by the authority against Mr Bullock in August 2022 and came into force a month later.

This meant that Mr Bullock had nine months to stop using the caravan as a residential dwelling.

It follows complaints made by neighbours and urging from Llanidloes Town Council for Powys council to act.

In documents lodged with PEDW (Planning and Environment Decisions Wales) supporting the notice, Susan Hinds said that neighbours had been complaining about the matter for years.

Mrs Hinds said: “The caravan is dilapidated and the area around it looks like a scrap yard and is an eyesore.”

The town council also said that the caravan did not have “proper sewerage facilities.”

In his appeal, Mr Bullock said: “The area at Craigle has been used for the siting of a residential caravan for in excess of 10 years.

“No enforcement action can therefore be taken.

“In addition, the caravan has been registered for Council Tax for many years and the tenants have been receiving housing benefit.”

Mr Jenkins who visited the site in June had asked the council to clarify the intention of their notice, saying that despite “attacking” the caravan’s use as a home they were not asking for it to be removed from the site.

The council replied that the notice’s intention to require: “the use of the caravan as a separate and independent residential dwelling to cease.”

Mr Jenkins said: “The council’s records suggest that the use commenced in 2013, with the structure registered for Council Tax purposes from around June 2015.

“It was not too late for the council to take enforcement action at the time the notice was served.

“As such, I find that the appeal must fail.”

This means that the enforcement notice with the change of wording is now back in force.