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Bid to remove static caravan from Westgate clifftop after it 'suddenly appears'

15:54, 24 October 2022

updated: 15:54, 24 October 2022

A static caravan has "suddenly appeared" on a clifftop in a quaint seaside town.

The portable home was dumped on council-owned land near the beach in Sea Road, Westgate.

A static caravan has appeared on a clifftop in Westgate
A static caravan has appeared on a clifftop in Westgate

The unusual situation has prompted Thanet District Council to launch legal action to remove the static caravan from the clifftop.

Cllr Bertie Braidwood, a member of the Thanet Independents who represents Westgate, posted on Facebook about the home.

"You may be wondering what is going on with the static home that suddenly appeared on the cliff top adjacent to Sea Road," he said.

"As this static home has been sited on Thanet District Council (TDC) land, there is an ongoing case with TDC's legal department and a preliminary hearing was held at Canterbury Court [last] week.

"TDC's planning enforcement has had involvement in the investigation and has provided support to their legal team.

A static home has appeared on a clifftop in Westgate
A static home has appeared on a clifftop in Westgate

"As this matter is being dealt with through the court, I'm unable to provide any information at this stage or advise how long it will be before we are advised of the outcome.

"[It is] not the solution we all want but enforcement is taking action and the legalities are being played out."

KentOnline visited the home to find it empty, with its doors blocked off with metal fencing.

Thanet District Council could not confirm when the static home arrived at the scene, how it got there or whether anyone was living in it.

A static home has appeared on a clifftop in Westgate
A static home has appeared on a clifftop in Westgate

A spokesperson for the authority said: "We made an application to the court for an injunction to remove the static home from the clifftop in Westgate-on-Sea, land owned by Thanet District Council.

"The first hearing in this process took place on October 19.

"The owner of the static home has been directed to provide an amended defence to the court by Wednesday, November 16 and we expect the final hearing to take place after April 2023.

"We are unable to provide further comment as the legal proceedings are ongoing.”

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