Limo blow for Scarning man

Alan Bell was determined to live, not out of the state when he was dismissed after he spent most of his working life at Crane Fruehauf in Dereham. The former production supervisor staked his savings to rent a limousine. But now Mr. Bell, 45, is facing a court battle with Breckland Council was rejected after a licence for his left hand drive American car with black-out windows. Mr Bell said: "What is really frustrating is that it buddies of mine in King's Lynn doing the same with the same kind of car. "Breckland have said that they will not license me because my car is American, as all limousines, and it is left, which they think is dangerous." Mr. Bell lives in Scarning with his wife, Clare, her two daughters, Chloe, 14, and Georgia, nine, and his mother, Winifred, 80 He said: "I am just trying to support the family. We have all our ploughed in cash. My wife is a nurse in Dereham hospital, so they supported us at the moment. Helps the whole family, including my mother with her pension . " Mr. Bell at a meeting of the Licensing Committee's Breckland end of May and was crushed by the decision, which he left in between the dreams shreds. "I have only so much into this, so I decided to appeal. I do not see why it was in King's Lynn, but not here," he said. "I myself have my first-aid certificate - I have done everything I can to please the Council, and I am not the task that easily." Breckland claims that the left-vehicles have restricted vision and therefore a higher risk of accidents. He says it is against the policy of the Council license unsuit vehicles are stretched because they are the group of narrow streets. Principal environmental health officer, and Nigel Burrows, said: "We have understanding for the decision of Mr. Bell, and were consulting him on the possible options. We have explained why we have him." Mr. Bell has a complaint against the decision and will appear at Thetford Magistrates' Court next Monday to argue his case. He will come in the car in question, accompanied by his friends from Bob's Stateside lemonades in their cars identical. Mr Bell said: "I thought, I can go with a bang, if they do not change their minds." Breckland is not the first town in Norfolk to ban stretch limousines. Last year, South Norfolk Council voted to deny Lee Tutton a license for his limousine on similar grounds. It was also concerned about the age of the car and because he left.