A farmer who converted a fire engine into an illegal AirBnB holiday home is still taking bookings, despite being ordered to stop.
Graham Harrison Teasdale, 52, was served with an enforcement notice in 2020 but is still renting it out to holidaymakers, with bookings being taken as far away as next March.
Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard the fire truck was illegally left in place at Doddick Farm, Threlkeld, between July 2020 and December last year.
Teasdale told the court he did not believe it needed planning permission as it's on wheels.
Lake District National Park Authority officials pressed ahead with a prosecution after confirming he'd ignored an enforcement notice to remove it.
Sioned Davies, prosecuting, told JPs: "It was booked up until January of the following year."
Representing himself in court, Teasdale told magistrates: "I built it myself, so I'm not getting rid of it. We've got to come to some solution, haven't we? It's not harming anybody.
“The only people against it are the local parish council. I've had over 16 applications into Threlkeld Parish Council and they've never supported it once.
"It if had been someone else's fire engine, it would have been passed.
"I can assure you that from where I live, I can see 150 mobile homes or caravans from my farm on other farms. I can't see why I should be punished for having one."
Asked how much he charged holidaymakers to stay in the fire truck, Teasdale said: "It varies from winter to summer; hundreds - £300 per week.
“I don't believe it's harming anybody."
Magistrates estimated the financial benefit derived by Teasdale from the breach to be around £20,000.
The court clerk pointed out that planning rules applied to the defendant as they did to everybody else.
Teasdale applied to the Lake District National Park Authority for retrospective planning permission for the fire engine but was turned down.
Magistrates imposed a fine of £8,978 along with a £2,000 victim surcharge, leaving a debt to the court of £10,978.
There was no order for costs as no estimate for these was submitted to the court.
Teasdale asked if he could pay off the debt over five years, but magistrates ruled that he must pay at a rate of £1,000 per month.
The fire engine is still being advertised online.
According to the HostUnusual site, the 'quirky former engine' is 'uniquely equipped for a truly memorable family escape.'The advert states: "After all, how many holiday cottages come so readily equipped with children's firefighter costumes and hosepipe, fire engine beds, a sauna... and a even a firefighter's pole?
"Better still, your location is truly magnificent.
"Positioned on a working farm at the southern foot fells of Blencathra, one of the most impressive fells in the Northern Lakes, this is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that promises to take your breath away."
