Perth and Kinross Council will explore alternative options as to how to deal with a static caravan parked in a Perth cul de sac for almost two years without planning permission.
Much to some neighbours’ dismay the local authority – after having served an enforcement notice in October 2023 – decided to close the case in April 2024.
The council’s planning department determined it was “not proportionate and expedient for the planning authority to use its discretionary powers to take direct action in this instance”.
But this week the council said it has now decided to look at “alternative options”.
Residents were dumbfounded to see a large static caravan tightly manoeuvred onto a Letham driveway in February 2023.
Neighbour Diane Short said: “It arrived two years ago in February. Quite a few neighbours phoned up planning.”
What followed was a long-running saga where eventually the council determined in October 2023 there had been a planning breach and served an enforcement notice.
The formal notice required residential use of the caravan at the site to stop and for the static caravan to then be removed from the land.
The notice required the actions be taken before December 7, 2023.
Despite the static caravan still remaining in place, in April 2024 the council decided to close the case.
PKC’s Planning Enforcement Closing Report stated: “The enforcement notice has not been complied with and therefore the property owners are currently in breach of the notice.
“Direct action was investigated, however it was determined that it is not proportionate and expedient for the planning authority to use its discretionary powers to take direct action in this instance. The enforcement notice does however remain in effect and the caravan remains unlawful.”
Diane said: “Totally out of the blue, I got an email from the council saying that yes she had broken planning laws, yes she had broken the removal order but basically the solution is bigger than the problem so they’re just going to close the case and not do anything.”
She added: “I think it affects the price of my house. I’ve no intention of selling my property but I know if I was coming up the street to look at this house and saw that, I wouldn’t even get out the car. You’d turn around and drive away.
“If it was hidden down the side or round the back – but it’s smack bang in the front.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service approached the occupant of the property with the static caravan.
She said: “I have spoken to the council and I have planning permission. I don’t see what the problem is. It’s not causing anyone any harm.”
However, Perth and Kinross Council confirmed there is no planning permission in place and it will now explore “alternative options” to deal with the breach.
A PKC spokesperson said: “In the interests of clarity, the static caravan in question does not have planning permission. Subsequently, a formal enforcement notice was served by the council which requires the removal of the caravan from the site. As the enforcement notice has not been complied with by the date set, the council is now exploring alternative options to deal with this breach of planning control, ensuring all actions are in accordance with our adopted Planning Enforcement Charter (2024).”
Perth City North councillor John Rebbeck has been involved in the case.
The SNP elected member said: “I’m aware of it and working on it. I hope we can reach a solution.”