AN MP has called for a review of a planning decision that will force a great-grandmother to move out of her static caravan.

Bradford East MP Imran Hussain has taken up the case of Marion Majors, whose static caravan will be removed from the back garden of her home in Acre Lane, Eccleshill, on October 18, after she was given three months’ notice and lost an appeal against the decision.

She suffers from health problems including rheumatoid arthritis, bowel disease, bladder problems, raised aorta and a degenerative spine disease.

The 70-year-old has lived in the three-bedroom home since 1976 until she moved into the static caravan in August 2014. The house is now occupied by her daughter, Dawn Majors-Burdin, 42, who is Mrs Majors’ carer, her husband Simon and their son, Oliver, ten.

Enforcement action against the unauthorised static caravan being used as a granny annexe has been upheld on appeal.

Bradford Council issued a notice in February this year calling for the caravan to be removed within three months.

But Mrs Majors appealed to the planning inspectorate over the matter, arguing that complying with the notice would leave her homeless. She will now be forced to move back into the house.

Planning inspector Chris Preston said planning permission for the caravan had already been refused and a subsequent appeal was unsuccessful. The Council issued the breach notice due to its effect on visual and residential amenity, resulting from its design and position.

Mr Hussain has written to Council leader, Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, asking for Mrs Majors’ case to be heard again, calling for common sense and greater compassion within planning rules.

Mr Hussain said: “The decision by the council to take enforcement action against Marion despite her age and difficult health conditions is deeply concerning, particularly as the decision would ruin her life savings and force her out of her family home of over 40 years. Planning enforcement officers need to look at issues such as this compassionately, with the leeway granted to them to do so, and it is time that they start using common sense and put people before bureaucracy.”

Council Deputy Leader Cllr Val Slater, said: “The decisions taken by Bradford Council over this issue have twice been endorsed by the Government’s independent Planning Inspectorate. These cases are always difficult and we have sympathy with the family, but we cannot bend the rules to suit ourselves and our planning enforcement officers have to follow strict guidelines set by the government. If Mr Hussain wants to give officers the discretion to act according to individual circumstances he should work with his colleagues in Parliament to get the rules changed.”