HOLY SHIP
I’ve been living in a shipping container for 30 years but now council jobsworths are kicking me out – it’s not fair
A DAD who has been secretly living in a giant shipping container for 30 years is devastated after the council kicked him out.
Stephen Gibbons, 65, said he has "lost everything" after being given just six months to be out of his pad, which he has packed with fancy ornaments and décor.
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Council officials ruled that he changed his agricultural buildings to a mixed-used facility without letting them know.
Stephen, of St Brides, Newport, accepts he never alerted the council when he began living there in 1992 but thought he would be okay because of how long he has lived in the shipping containers.
He told : "I don't know what I'll do. I've got a house with my ex but I can't live with her, can I?
"It isn't a secret and it never has been. It’s not like I’ve just done this, I’ve lived here for 30 years.
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"All the neighbours and everyone knows I’m here. It’s even on Google Earth. You can see it.
“I’ve had a great time here, I’ve brought four of my kids up here. It’s the best place, and all the people love me."
He suspects someone informed Newport Council of his dwelling, which includes three living areas, one bedroom and a bathroom.
Officials ruled: "Those positive acts of deception and deliberate concealment should deprive the appellant from gaining immunity."
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Stephen said: "It has taken me a long time to get it like this. It's all shipping containers. It's cool in summer and warm in the winter. It's nice.
“People are doing it now a lot, I was doing it 30 years ago. I live here on my own now, but I had the kids in here with me.
“It’s taken a lot of time and work to make it better and better. You can see I’m a bit of a hoarder. But I am one to maintain things."
His dad bought the land in 1990 for the cattle and horses without planning to live there. But Stephen moved in when he divorced.
He added: "It’s so frustrating when you can get a caravan club come and park five caravans up here and nothing can be done if they keep moving. It doesn’t seem fair.”
Stephen has been ordered to pay £8,000 in admin costs, as well as to return Lighthouse Farm to its previous state within six months.
Councillor James Clarke, cabinet member for strategic planning, housing and regulation, said: “I’m pleased that Planning and Environmental Wales agreed with the council’s assessment that this structure was erected without permission and deliberately concealed in order to bypass planning regulations.
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"Planning regulations are in place for good reasons. They seek to protect all of us against inappropriate development and this decision demonstrates that deliberate acts to deceive and mislead will be found out.
"The council will take enforcement action against anyone who deliberately breaches the rules in this manner.”
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