A homeowner has been told he cannot have his own parking space to help sell his house. Former teacher John Fielding, who does not drive, is looking to downsize and said he has been advised by an estate agent that his property will struggle to sell without its own driveway.
But a council has refused planning permission on highway safety grounds. Mr Fielding told councillors he had always used buses and trains or walked to work, always choosing schools close to where he lives.
“I’ve never driven a car,” he told a planning committee. Mr Fielding wants to sell his Yorkshire home so he can move closer to his two sons.
Mr Fielding said: "I realised it was impossible to sell the property at its real value without parking spaces,” he said, adding his estate agent had told him as much. The homeowner was told he could not simply dig out some of his land because it would require some engineering work and equipment.
Planning offices had recommended councillors refuse the application, mainly on highway safety grounds because of tight sight lines at the house’s position.
The council's highways officer Andrew Dmoch said he was 'worried over safety' and that work carried out would create an opening from a wall onto a road, which is on a bend.
A neighbour also raised concerns about drainage and that unless the structural changes were properly channeled, surface water could flow into his property. There were also conflicting views at the Calderdale planning committee meeting over the bay being dangerous for walkers.
