Granddad told to get rid of home-schooling caravan outside his house

A man who transformed a caravan into a home school for his grandchildren outside of his house has been told to move it from the street.

Kevin Hufton, from Huddersfield, has always owned caravans and claims he has never experienced any problems with parking locations before.

The 51-year-old has been issued a warning from Kirklees Council to move the caravan from Keat Street in Crosland Moor by February 4 and to remove waste from his front garden, ExaminerLive reports.

Kevin could face a fine of up to £2,500 if he does not move the caravan by the deadline and it would be towed.

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“I bought it in lockdown to help my grandkids with homeschooling,” Kevin said.

“I have put a desk, a chair and a printer in there for them. I have even put a map up on the wall.

“My grandson does his homework in the caravan because there is no room in the house for the kids to play.

“My other grandchild comes down and plays in there too. He is eight and has Down Syndrome.

“They are really are upset because they like playing in it.”

Kevin, who has lived on Keat Street for 15 years, said he is puzzled about why he has been issued with the notice.

Kirklees Council said it has received “a number of issues and complaints”, but Kevin said no one has directly raised issues with him.

“None of my neighbours have complained and it’s not restricting the street,” he said. “It’s not on yellow lines. There are no parking restrictions on the street.

“I have always had a caravan. I have always parked it outside my house and I have never had any problems or complaints before.

“It is not causing anyone any problems. I don’t know why it is such an issue all of a sudden.”

Kevin claims the only reason the caravan has not moved since he bought it over a year ago is because he has had a number of holidays cancelled due to Covid-19.

He said: “We’ve got a holiday to Butlins coming up in August. There are a few of us going.

“We do go away in the caravan usually, but we have had three caravanning holidays cancelled because of Covid.

“I am being told that because it has not moved I can’t have it outside my house, but I haven’t been able to go away.”

Councillor Naheed Mather, cabinet member for environment, said: “The Greenspace Action Team issued a Community Protection Notice (CPN) to the resident with regards to a number of issues and complaints received about the property including large amounts of waste at the property, the running of a business and storing of a caravan.

“Officers have spoken with Mr Hufton and issued letters and notices in recent months with the latest requesting the waste on the property, and on the unadopted highway, be removed and disposed of correctly, removal of the caravan and to stop dismantling vehicles at this address. Although some of the waste has been cleared, some remains.

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