Parked coaches a nuisance
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AN INJUNCTION was granted against Gastonia Coaches Ltd in the Chancery Division of the High Court last week to restrain the company from causing a public nuisance by parking vehicles on the highway.
Injunctions in respect of private nuisance were suspended for a year with liberty to apply should the nuisance become intolerable. Damages of £200 were awarded to two residents and E25 to another.
Gastonia Coaches operate a 32-coach and three minibus business from Wakehurst, a Victorian semi-detached house in Cranleigh. A small taxi and coach business originally occupying the premises was sold to Gastonia in 1964.
The business included taking children to school and when the school system went comprehensive in 1972 the business expanded to 17 vehicles and grew to its present size in 1974.
Behind Wakehurst was a yard of about a third of an acre with workshop and fuelling points, and coaches and employees' cars were parked in the residential road flanking Cranleigh Common which was a preservation area.
At the hearing it was stated that all parties agreed that the site was not suitable for so many vehicles and that the business ought to be moved.
But, although Gastonia were anxious to take the business elsewhere, they had failed to find a suitable alternative.
Mr Noakes, the owner of the business, agreed that a dis continuance order, which would bring the business to an end had been approved but not served. If it had been, it would have involved compensation.
Public nuisance, largely obstructional, had been established, although excessive noise and fumes had not been proved.