Pensioner's home dream falters

An 81-year-old man is likely to lose the latest round in a 37-year battle for planning permission to build a house.

Arthur Martin has been applying since 1965 to replace his mobile home at Portishead, Somerset, with a permanent home.

But planning officers are recommending rejection because it is in the green belt.

He says he may be forced to move into a nursing home if his request is turned down.

When I see the houses on the other side of the road and the new estate it seems a kick in the teeth

Arthur Martin

North Somerset Council is considering his latest application on Wednesday.

Mr Martin has lived on the land, which he now owns, since he was a boy. It was left to him by his father.

He said: "I have lived here since 1932.

"I've applied for 40 years for a dwelling and I've had no luck so I hope they're going to make another effort."

Housing developments

He has been increasingly angered by housing developments nearby, while his own applications are being rejected.

"When I see the houses on the other side of the road and the new estate, it seems a kick in the teeth, especially when I see others coming into the district because I see them as basically townies," he said.

Geoff Dore lives in the mobile home with Mr Martin and Mr Martin's carer.

He said: "When Arthur came to live here in 1932 you could walk into the centre of town across fields.

"In that time and continuing to this day they have built more than 2,000 houses which now border his land.

Demolition offer

"All the time he's lived there he has watched this coming closer and closer and still he hasn't got the right to turn his own mobile home into a house."

Mr Dore said they had offered to demolish a number of outbuildings on the land if they were granted permission for a permanent house.

A council spokeswoman said the application was being considered by the planning and transport committee.

She said it was recommended for rejection because the land was within the green belt and outside areas set aside for housing development.