A BUSINESSMAN who branded Blackburn with Darwen Council a joke after being issued fines for parking on his ‘driveway’ in October has been hit by four more fines.

John Houlihan was handed the first four penalty charge notices after officers from Capita visited his home last year.

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The grandad of 10 said that he is allowed to park his vehicles on the ‘pavement’ outside his home in Bentham Road because he owns the land.

A tribunal has been arranged for June 16 in Manchester to hear his appeal against the fines.

At the time, the council argued that the vehicles have been parked in violation of its rules and issued the fines of £70 each.

The 47-year-old has lived in the ex-Bentham Road Methodist Church for 10 years and had notices served on his Range Rover, Mercedes Sprinter van and Mercedes X5. Another Mercedes, belonging to his son Chris, 24, was also given a fine.

Yesterday, new notices for a Mercedes Bravas and a recovery truck that were parked on the pavement were issued, as well as notices for a campervan and a horse box that were parked on land belonging to the nearby NHS medical centre.

Mr Houlihan, a landlord who owns about 90 houses in Blackburn and Darwen, said: “I’m very frustrated because it’s not as if the council has even waited for the tribunal to be held.

“It’s my land and the cars are parked so they are not blocking the road, and you can still walk down the side of them on the paved section. It’s ridiculous really and there is no way that I’m going to pay these as well.”

A Blackburn with Darwen Council spokesman said there had been further reports of vehicles parking in contravention of restrictions in Bentham Road, including parking on double yellow lines.

They said: “If the owner of any vehicle issued with a penalty charge notice disputes that a contravention occurred, they may submit an informal challenge in writing following the instructions on the reverse of the notice.”