A SQUATTER has been ordered by magistrates to move his campervan, bird baths and other belongings from Blackgang Viewpoint car park.

Francis Keown admitted a civil charge of unauthorised camping when he appeared before Isle of Wight Magistrates on Monday, after ignoring an order from the Isle of Wight Council to remove his makeshift home.

He was told he had seven days to clear the site, just next to the car park, or the council, which owns the land, will clear it for him — and send him the bill.

Keown said he had been using the land consistently since 1998 — although the council said that was not the case — and had only just been served with a notice it belonged to the council.

Council prosecutor Jenny Ager said: "He has just decided to set up camp there, and he has been making changes to the land such as placing a padlock on one of the gates.

"We don't want him there, and while he says he won't be there today, he will just be back again tomorrow."

The court heard Keown had previously spoken council officers, and repeatedly argued he was improving the land and had only made minor changes.

Keown, who has not been living at the site full time and gave his home address at High Street, Freshwater, described himself as 'the self appointed custodian of the land.'

Representing himself in court, he said the area was disused and had become a hotspot for flytipping, which he had cleaned up.

Keown said: "If I were to show you the photos of the rubbish I had to clean up you would be shocked. Shocked!

"I said to the council, if this is your land, why aren't you doing anything about the fly tipping?

"It's a toilet, its a health, safety and waste hazard."

Presiding Magistrate Peter Readding said: "We aren't arguing if the land is your property, we aren't asking if it was an eyesore.

"We appreciate you have done a lot of work for the area, but in this case that is entirely immaterial.

"Squatters rights went a long time ago. You do not have the right to take that land from anyone."

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