A MOTORIST was forced to paymore than £400 after leaving his untaxed vehicle in what he was told was a private communal car park.

Ray Kempster, 28, was told an overgrown car park behind his block of flats in Long Riding, Basildon, was privately owned communal land.

When the car tax for his classic VW Golf GTI ran out last month, Mr Kempster was issued a SORN and left the vehicle parked in the communal area, so it was off the road.

However, the architect returned home from work on October 17 to find his beloved car was no longer there.

At first he thought it had been stolen, but after contacting the police he was told it had been towed away, because it was illegally parked on a public highway.

Mr Kempster said: “I just didn’t have the money to get the car taxed again because it was the end of the month and I’ve got another vehicle I use day to day, but the Golf is my pride and joy, because it’s so old.

“It ended up costing me much more in the end, but I thought it would be safe in the car park, because I had been told so many times it’s private land.”

Mr Kempster tried for more than three years to find out whowas responsible for the neglected plot of land.

There are cracked pavements and uneven kerbs, and trees are overgrown and Mr Kempster wanted to know who was responsible for it.

The Echo has been shown e-mails sent from officers from both Essex County Council and Basildon Council telling him the car park was privately owned.

After informing the councils about his fine however, Basilson now says the car park is classed as an adopted highway, meaning responsibility for its upkeep would, in fact, fall on Essex County Council. Meanwhile Essex Highways department has sent Mr Kempster a map which shows the car park is considered to be a highway maintained at public expense.

Mr Kempsters said: “I’m really annoyed nobody wants to take responsibility for repairs and maintenance, but when someone can make money out of you it’s suddenly a public highway!”

Mr Kempster had to pay £260 to get the vehicle out of a compound in Rainham, East London, and another £160 to get it towed to his parents house in Billericay.

An Essex County Council spokesman said: “Referencing a copy of the Highways records, this area is maintained by the Highways Authority, Essex County Council.

“The resident can report any highways defects using the online reporting tool at www.essex.gov.uk/ highways or by calling: 0845 603 7631.”