A SOUTH Lakeland couple have had to sell their home after the threat of enforcement action left them feeling like they had no choice but to stop using the grounds of their property as a car park to serve a busy train station.

Val Thompson and Jean Walton say they can no longer afford to live in their Helmside Road home after losing the income they received from allowing commuters to leave their cars in their grounds, just a short walk from Oxenholme Lake District station.

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Ms Walton first started letting travellers park there in 2007, and before they gave up in their battle with the local authorities, they had room for 36 cars.

They would charge people £5 per day, compared to £12 at the station’s own car park.

“It only started in a small way because the station car park was always full and people were coming up and asking if could leave cars here,” said Ms Walton.

“The only reason it grew is because people were coming and some were literally crying because they were going to miss trains and lose money.

“But it’s 36 cars that aren’t parked on the road or in the village. Once the station is full there’s nowhere else, people are stuck.”

The couple said they had been in dispute with the council for 12 months before being told they could face enforcement action, and both they and their customers were devastated they were having to call it a day.

Ms Walton added: “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. We’ve made a lot of friends from doing this and met a lot of people.

“People are horrified by this. Two people said they’re going to have to change their jobs because they can’t afford to park at Oxenholme any more, five days a week.”

The car park first came to the attention of Cumbria County Council after concerns were raised about the volume of cars using the Helmside Road junction.

A spokesman for South Lakeland District Council said the situation was being monitored but now the couple have stopped operating a car park, no further action is necessary.