A KENNINGTON guest house has been shut down after operating without planning permission for five years.

Pembroke Guest House on Kennington Road was refused planning permission last month after its owner Clare Newland applied retrospectively to keep going.

Vale of White Horse District Council said the house’s four parking spaces were not enough for nine bedrooms.

Council planning manager Martin Deans wrote: “The plans show nine bedrooms in total, requiring at least eight off-street parking spaces.

“However there are only four parking bays. The lack of on-site parking will have a negative impact on highway safety via the likelihood of increased on-road parking.”

Kennington Parish Council said parking was “below standard” and that guests parking on Kennington Road would cause congestion.

Miss Newland, a single mother-of-four, said she would have to sell her own house further up the street and downsize because the guest house made up a considerable part of her income.

She said she had never been told she was in breach of any rules despite paying business rates for the guest house.

She said guests were told on booking they had to reserve a parking space and would not get one if they did not.

On the travel review website Trip Advisor, the Pembroke has 130 “excellent” ratings, 27 “very good”, one “average” and one “poor”.

One reviewer from Faringdon called “David” wrote: “The accommodation was of luxurious standard based on a brand new build.

“All the rooms were good size and the decoration made the bedrooms boutique.”

Another guest who stayed with his wife last summer wrote: “The owner, Clare, her dog, Colin, and their student intern from Portugal, Pedro, were delightful hosts. I could always count on a good breakfast each morning.”

Miss Newland said she had a letter from the Vale last year telling her to stop operating the house and apply for planning permission.

Since then she has been renting the property out as two family homes, and “would continue to do so”.