A BUSINESSMAN, who has been forced off land he has leased for 15 years, has slammed the council for "playing dirty" as he moves to a new site.

Dan Brown, of Dan's Luxury Travel in Maybank Road, Woodford Green, this week left his original coach park near the Charlie Brown roundabout after his lease ran out on December 31, 2008.

Despite offering Redbridge more than twice the previous year's rent, Mr Brown said his proposal was turned down at the last minute when the council were offered a higher price by an unknown party.

Now Mr Brown, who has held contracts with the council, providing special needs buses for 30 years, has moved his fleet of 50 coaches to Roding Lane after he was issued with a court summons for outstaying his contract.

He said: "The spot I have now is less money, no rates and a five year lease, whereas Redbridge also wanted me to do £70,000-worth of work on top of the rent and only give me a six month lease.

"I think they need to sit down and think about this as they have treated me very badly.

"They are like a scum on their own people and they have been playing dirty by first agreeing the lease one week and then refusing it for a better deal.

"A lot of people back off from them but i don't care if I lose everything.

"They need to know that they can't treat people like this."

A spokesman for Redbridge Council said: "Mr Brown was given correct and proper notice to vacate the site in accordance with the terms of the lease he held, as his offer was not successful."

He added: "Unless and until possession of the site and all outstanding monies owing to the council are paid, the court action will continue."