A WOMAN who turned the front of her home into a depot for a bus and taxi business has been given until the summer to move them.

Government appointed inspector Ian Currie ruled than the cul de sac home in Benwick from where Pauline Ryan runs the business simply isn’t suitable.

“I am satisfied that, as a matter of fact and degree, the residential character of these premises has been materially changed,” he said.

He was satisfied that development “amounting to a change of use requiring planning has taken place.”

Mr Currie dismissed the appeal lodged by Mrs Ryan against an enforcement notice issued by Fenland District Council.

The council had ordered Mrs Ryan to stop using the land at 11 Neneside for keeping, maintaining and washing commercial vehicles.

They also ordered her to remove all commercial vehicles and to do so within a month.

Mr Currie noted that Fenland Council was prepared to extend the enforcement order from one month to six months to allow Mrs Ryan to continue with a school bus contract due to expire this summer.

“This is accepted as reasonable,” said Mr Currie.

The inspector said he was asked to consider a request for a “lower level of commercial usage” but in the absence of planning permission restricting parking to one bus/coach, the appeal on those ground also fails.

“I conclude that this enforcement notice appeal should not succeed and I uphold the notice, subjection to a variation regarding the period for compliance,” he added.

Mrs Ryan has also insisted no alternative premises are available but Fenland Council said it had received numerous complaints and were forced to take action.

“We have no wish to close their business down but the situation cannot continue as it is now,” said a spokesman.