Pensioner fined for car storage at former Haigy’s pub on Lumb Lane

The building at 31 Lumb Lane will be remembered by many as the old Haigy’s pub – a popular watering hole for Bradford City fans.

Mohammed Tazim, 72, bought the building in 2016 following the pub’s closure earlier that year, and converted it into a carpet shop called Allahdins.

But he also began using the pub land as a vehicle storage yard.

This included a number of vehicles being parked up on a grassed area next to the pub, which had been fenced off.

Bradford Council received complaints about the vehicles, some of which were stored yards from houses.

An enforcement notice was issued to Tazim, of Leylands Avenue, in 2019 ordering him to remove the vehicles within three months.

A photo included in the Council's enforcement notice, showing cars being stored next to the pub (Image: Bradford Council)

When he refused to comply, he was charged with breaching an enforcement notice – a charge he pleaded guilty to at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court on Thursday.

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Ruksana Kosser, prosecuting on behalf of Bradford Council, said: “Following an investigation into unauthorised storage of motor vehicles at the site on Lumb Lane he was handed an enforcement notice in August 2019. It ordered him to cease this unauthorised use of the land.Cars stored behind the carpet shop (Image: newsquest)

“Eighteen months have lapsed and the requirements of the enforcement notice have yet to be complied with.

“He has moved vehicles from the side of the building, but has instead dumped them at the back.

“It is still a big eyesore.”

She said the order was still in place, and whatever happened in court the vehicles would need moving.

Magistrates were told that there was a small car park at the pub, and because of this Tazim believed he would be allowed to store multiple vehicles on the site.

Haigy's before it shut (Image: newsquest)

He was unaware that he would need to change the use of the site through the planning system to do so – his defence argued.

He required other people to inform him of issues like planning permission.

Tazim suffered from depression and was unable to read or write – magistrates heard, and was in the process of winding his business down.

He was “making every effort” to get the vehicles removed.

Magistrates heard that the case cost the taxpayer £1,648 to investigate, along with £80 legal costs.

Tazim was ordered to pay these costs, as well as a £276 fine and £32 surcharge.

When the Telegraph & Argus visited the site on Thursday there were still multiple dilapidated vehicles, and a washing machine, on the yard behind the building.

A 4x4 covered in moss was parked on the street to the side of the building.