By Elliott Patrice –
In a narrative that resonates deeply with the essence of ‘home,’ Jonathan Golding‘s life took an unexpected turn after the repossession of his 33-ft-long coach-turned-motorhome. For Jonathan, this motorhome wasn’t just a vehicle; it was his sanctuary, a place where he was building his life.
As fate would have it, a simple journey to a friend’s house led to engine troubles, leaving Jonathan stranded on Ashbrow Road. With replacement parts from Sweden delayed, Jonathan’s world took a harsh turn when Kirklees Council, in an abrupt move, removed his coach from the layby on 22nd January.
Jonathan explained: “They [the council] knew I had other bits to go get, therefore knowing I wasn’t going to be at the motorhome on mornings, as I’m trying to source batteries. Commercial vehicle batteries not regular car batteries, both weighing 25kg to carry for 3 miles back.”
A spokesperson for Kirklees Council told Yorkshire Live: “The safety of residents and commuters on our road network is a top priority for the council. Last week, officers legally removed a large coach, which had been parked on the highway in Fartown for some time, after first being made aware of it in November 2023.”
“The council received numerous complaints about the vehicle. Upon investigation, it became apparent that, as well as obstructing the highway, the vehicle was not taxed and did not have a valid MOT.”
“Our teams have been in contact with the owner several times to ensure they have the support they need, and they were given the opportunity to move the vehicle to an appropriate location. As the vehicle was not moved by the owner, the council have done the responsible thing and removed it. The owner has been provided with all of the relevant information needed to resolve the issue.”
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This has left Jonathan to pay to get back his home. According to Jonathan: “I’ve been having to raise nearly £1,000 to release it, which I don’t have, never had, and they knew it from my circumstances. I’ve been told by the council I have to publicly embarrass myself in order to prove I’m homeless? They phoned me twice not offered me emergency accommodation. Nothing.”
As reported in various headlines, the repossession had a drastic effect on Jonathan with him spending time sleeping in the woods before finding places to stay with friends. In his own words, Jonathan shared the emotional turmoil he faced: “My health, physically and mentally, has deteriorated. Despite knowing my circumstances, the council’s actions have left me without a roof over my head.”
With adversity, Jonathan has taken steps to seek justice, reaching out to the ombudsman for a fair investigation into the events that led to his displacement.
Jonathan has explored various avenues to retrieve his home from the council. Recently, he contacted the ombudsman, who has initiated an investigation. The council’s reasoning for seizing his home was allegedly due to its presence on the road without tax or MOT. However, the initial notice Jonathan received only mentioned abandonment, omitting any reference to tax or MOT. This delay in addressing these issues has added to his financial burden while he worked on resolving other aspects of the situation.
Jonathan added: “As far as I have been told, and according to documents I have, my vehicle is exempt from MOT on the grounds of it being a special vehicle changed for wheelchair access. But since then, I’ve had nothing, even got in touch with a local MP who didn’t care whatsoever. The local MP supports homelessness, by that I mean he knows about the homeless situation, I contacted him firsthand and he didn’t care”
Like anyone losing their home, the toll this has taken on him has been massive. The fight to get back the motorhome has been an extremely long and tiring one. Not to mention the financial strain for Jonathan, who has felt overwhelmed by the situation.
Jonathan has set up a GoFundMe to help support him in getting his home back, so if you would like to show your support and help Jonathan visit:
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