A MOBILE home has been torn down and removed from green belt land in Rayleigh after the owner ignored enforcement notices and court action.

Rochford District Council said the move highlighted its commitment to protecting the green belt.

The landowner must now foot the bill for the council work and also bear the cost of removing hardstanding and returning the land to green belt.

The mobile home was put on the land off Trenders Avenue without planning permission and was brought to the council's attention in April, 2001.

The long-running saga began when an enforcement notice for the unauthorised siting and residential use of the caravan was served in September, 2001, requiring the caravan's removal.

The owner appealed against this notice, and the appeal was dismissed in March, 2002. The landowner applied for retrospective planning permission to retain the caravan and its use in August, 2003, but this was refused by the council.

Again an appeal was launched, but was dismissed in December, 2003.

The appeals were to both the Planning Inspectorate and the High Court, which stood by the decisions of the council.

Although the council took the case to court on two occasions, securing fines and costs totalling more than £1,200, the caravan and the hardstanding remained.

The only option remaining was to remove it by force last month. Keith Hudson, Tory councillor responsible for planning and transportation, said: "The owners of this site flouted the planning rules and would not remove the caravan and hardstanding. Therefore, it was absolutely essential firm action was taken to send out a clear message that breaking the planning rules in Rochford will not be tolerated."

The owner was given three days to collect the caravan, but failed to do so, and it was disposed of. The Echo has not been able to contact the owner.