A FURIOUS mum-of-two says she is being “treated like a criminal” after “stuck up” neighbours complained about a double-decker bus parked on her drive.
The council has ordered Wendy Salmon, 55, to remove the vehicle after complaints that it “ruined the ambience”.
Salmon, who runs a pub, accused her neighbours of “rallying” against her by complaining to the council about the bus.
She described the situation as “ridiculous” and accused neighbours of being “curtain twitchers” who “act like they own the street”.
Despite Surrey Heath Council accepting she was “not breaking any laws”, Salmon was hit with a CPN, formerly known as an ASBO.
She must remove the bus by June 20 after a bitter two year legal battle.
She said: “The wording of the CPN was that it was ‘upsetting the ambience of the local area’.
“Now no-one speaks to me. All my neighbours completely ignore me.
”I’m being treated like a criminal even though I’ve never committed a crime in my life.
The huge falling-out started in March 2023 when Salmon bought the double-decker bus for £6,000 from a friend’s brother.
She said her plan was to convert the bus into a bar and cafe for private parties and events.
Wendy added: “I keep myself to myself but this was going to be a business for me and my children.
“I am still hoping to do it but it’s going to be a lot more costly and difficult.”
Her street in Camberley is lined with four bedroom detached properties with an average house price of around £600,000.
Salmon’s house is at the end of the cul-de-sac.
She said her drive was out of the view of most of the residents complaining.
Salmon said: “This was started by just one neighbour who did not like the look of something.
“I had to tell her she does not own my house – she does not own the street. You can not even see it until you get to the end of the drive.”
“I wanted this to be an investment for my children, giving them an opportunity to work for themselves as they both have a passion for food,” Salmon told SWNS.
But within fifteen minutes of parking the bus outside her home, a man arrived to ask if it would be a “permanent feature”.
After an hour, the mum-of-two said he returned to warn her that there would be more complaints.
Salmon said: “Over the next few days his wife spoke to me and asked various questions.
“I told her that I was renovating the bus and that I hoped it would be completed in three months.”
The bus was then reported as “abandoned”, which led to a visit from Surrey Heath Borough Council.
The council initially confirmed via email that there are no planning restrictions, and no further action would be taken.
But two weeks later, the council told Salmon a further complaint had been received.
Salmon claimed this was from a different neighbour who couldn’t see the bus from their house but was a “friend of the initial complainer”.
She added: “I later received another visit from the council and I showed them the inside of the bus, clearly work had been carried out.
“Apparently, my neighbour had told them that she didn’t want to see my bus while she was sitting watching TV in the summer.”
Wendy received an email from the council advising her to register the vehicle as off the road and complete the renovation as soon as possible.
She said: “Yet a few months later I received a Community Protection Warning (CPW) from the council.
“It said that if I can’t comply with the order I could get a fixed penalty notice, be prosecuted, or the bus could be destroyed or disposed of.”
Salmon said the warning had an “impossible timescale”.
A few months later, the CPN arrived and she had “no choice” but to appeal.
Salmon’s limited funds meant she had to represent herself in court.
She reluctantly dropped the appeal after getting the wording of the CPN changed.
She said: “The council team was saying that after eight months the bus was still on my drive, and it needed to be moved.
“They couldn’t comprehend that their actions had caused the delay.
“I reminded them that the CPN meant the bus would not be allowed to park in a residential area in Surrey Heath, and I explained how this would affect my business plan.
“The bottom line was if I didn’t agree to move the bus then I would have to go into court and be cross examined.
“I didn’t want my personal life played out in court, knowing that I would be the victim yet again of local gossip.
“We went in front of the judge, I explained that the only reason I was dropping the appeal was because it was making me ill, with my family including my 79-year-old father having been bullied by my neighbours.
“I don’t know what the future holds, but I do not like my previously loved home.
“I don’t want to leave the house as I feel bullied, neighbours no longer speak to me or my partner.
“I have had over a year of sleepless nights, stress and anxiety. My dream of restoring the bus is no longer something that I want to do.
“It is the council and my neighbour who have upset the ambiance in the local area, not me.”
“It’s getting so close to the deadline I think I will put it in the pub car park for now,” she added.
Salmon claims that only one neighbour had “an issue” with the bus and “wouldn’t let it rest”.
“The neighbour is just so stuck up and doesn’t like the way it looked and only cared what people might think,” she said.
“She just didn’t like the way it looked and instigated complaints.”
The neighbour who launched the complaint was unavailable to comment.
Surrey Heath Council said in a statement: “We are unable to comment on this case at present.”
Know Your Rights: Dealing with Neighbour Parking Disputes
Parking issues between neighbours can be frustrating, but understanding your rights can help you navigate the situation:
- Public Roads: If your neighbour is parking on a public road, they generally have the same rights to park there as you do, provided they are following local parking regulations.
- Driveway Obstruction: It is illegal for someone to block your driveway’s entrance, even on public roads. You can report this to the council or the police if the obstruction persists.
- Parking Permits: In areas with controlled parking zones, permits are required. If you suspect misuse, such as unauthorised permits, you can report this to your local council.
- Shared Driveways: If you share a driveway, check your property deeds or agreements to understand the rules about parking and access rights. Legal advice may be necessary for disputes.
- Anti-Social Behaviour: If your neighbour’s parking habits are part of wider anti-social behaviour (e.g., deliberately parking to inconvenience you), you may be able to report this to the council or seek mediation services.
- Council Involvement: Councils may intervene in persistent disputes, especially if parking issues are linked to breaches of local regulations or cause safety concerns.
Remember, communication is often the best first step. Speak politely to your neighbour to explain your concerns and explore solutions before escalating the issue.
