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05/06/06


Ordered to move from land


Most people buy land before setting up home on it and yesterday Mark Warner learned that lesson the hard way after being evicted by bailiffs. The 30-year-old lorry driver had been living on land between Oakley and Worminghall, for more than six months.

He said he had tried to find the landowner to ask permission to move his 40ft-long mobile home in, together with cars and vans, but had been unable to do so. So he just continued to live there and even christened it Stella Farm.

But his stay came to an abrupt end yesterday, when bailiffs arrived at the gates and, in dramatic scenes which saw him break down in tears, ordered him off the land.

Mr Warner told them: "All my worldy possessions are here. You're going to make me homeless. No-one wants to be homeless. You could have given me more notice."

The land is owned by a company called Kingsley Cards Ltd, which the Oxford Mail understands has now gone into administration.

After some discussions, the bailiffs and an agent acting on behalf of the landowners said that, while Mr Warner must leave immediately, he could have a fortnight to clear the land.

He pleaded with them for longer, saying: "That's not long enough, I'll have to organise someone to come and pick up the mobile home and then I won't have anywhere to put it."

Mr Warner had been sent a letter by Oxford County Court, which he received on Friday, May 19, telling him to be at court for an eviction hearing on Monday, May 22.

He says he was caught in traffic and arrived late for the hearing and the next day eviction notices were posted at the land.

Mr Warner said he had been looking for farms to rent in the area when he discovered this land before Christmas.

He said: "I made inquiries with the neighbours, who told me the land had been used for illegal raves. I set about tidying up the land and clearing it. It was in a real state before I moved in."

Mr Warner, who had been living at the site with girlfriend Catherine Thiele and friends Steve Rimmer, Conrad Grant and Jessica Cox, said he had spent more than £7,000 clearing the land.

He said he called the Land Registry to find out who owned the land but had been unable to do so.

Last night, Mr Warner told the Oxford Mail he had still not found anywhere to live. He said: "I'm still trying to find somewhere to sleep tonight. It all happened so quickly. I really don't know what's going to happen.

"I will approach the council to see if it can help me, but I can't see much chance of me clearing the site in two weeks and finding somewhere else.

"That's why I was so upset when the bailiffs arrived. I've just not had a chance to make any alternative arrangements."

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