Council wins eight-year fight to force gypsy couple to demolish double-wide mobile home they got away with building without planning permission - because it turned out 18inches too wide

A gypsy couple have been ordered to demolish the £250,000 home they have lived in for eight years, because it is 18 inches too wide.
Rodney Wilson and partner Pat Wenn moved onto the land in Walsoken, Norfolk in 2006 but ignored the local planning laws which outlines a ban to build on the site.
In 2011 - after an appeal  - they were eventually granted permission to have two mobile homes which they knocked into a single property, complete with conservatory.
But they found themselves in another battle with West Norfolk Borough Council when it emerged their double park home - which has a front garden and an ornamental pond - was too big and didn't adhere to the planning proposal.
Mr Wilson, 70, said the battle has already cost him £30,000 in planning fees and it would cost him another £38,000 to reduce the size of the property in which he and his partner were planning to retire in.

 

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It comes after planners said the two mobile units joined together were 24ft wide instead of the maximum 22ft 3ins permitted under rules governing caravan sites.
Mr  Wilson, and his partner, 75, were refused permission to keep the existing home on the site as the council voted for 'direct action' to remove it in 2012.