A man who parked a tank outside Wickes in a row over a kitchen has finally moved it - but says the battle is not over.<br /><br />Paul Gibbons, 63, says the £25,000 work by the chain was "incomplete, a threat-to-life and deadly".<br /><br />Paul drove the military vehicle at 6am on December 27 to the store in Basingstoke, Hants, and has had it outside ever since - until today.<br /><br />The tank is a 1965 decommissioned Abbot self-propelled gun which he borrowed from a friend who rents it to people wishing to protest against big companies.<br /><br />He is asking for a refund from Wickes for what he described as the “poor quality” £25,000 unfinished kitchen installation at his home last February.<br /><br />He says it has been overcome with "dangerous" issues including circulatory issues which are at risk of catching fire, mould under the sink, badly fitting units - with one heavy cupboard nearly collapsing on his dog.<br /><br />Paul, from Kingsclere, Hants, says he has to sleep downstairs due to the high risk of fire so he can escape without becoming trapped.<br /><br />A sign was later posted on the vehicle warning that it would be removed ‘within 14 days’ of the date of the notice which was January 23.<br /><br />Paul says Wickes' note on the tank stated the vehicle was 'not road taxed' and it has been 'abandoned there' and they would be will be removing it today (Tues).<br /><br />Paul disputes this but drove it away in case it got damaged but the chain.<br /><br />Paul said: "I'm tired, worn out, but my voice is almost coming back now - I am not crushed yet. <br /><br />"The tank is firstly road-taxed - so their statement isn't true, and I have been with it 40 out of 41 days - that is not abandonment.<br /><br />"I moved the tank today because it's owner was worried for its safety. <br /><br />'It did more than it needed to and has done it's job now - it's a 1965 vehicle and there isn't very many left.<br /><br />"It is really about how this company can chose what they do and don't do. <br /><br />"They choose not to give people what they pay for - I don't understand how they think they can get away with it. <br /><br />"I don't want a company to be able to do what they want without consequence - if they are going to take people's money they should give them what they paid for. <br /><br />"Lives have been blighted by this company, but we are all going to come together.<br />This is just the beginning."<br /><br />Though initially Paul admits he felt alone, depressed and powerless in his plight, he claims there are thousands of people just like him.<br /><br />He said: "The tank was a way of making a very loud, very quiet protest, people wouldn't talk to me if I was just sat outside with a placard - whereas when the tank was there, people came and asked me why and you tell them.<br /><br />''This protest has taught me not only am I not by myself - but there are thousands fighting the same battle, I now realise that.<br /><br />"We have to see if we can get something done, because it's not fair that a company like this, even though it's not just this one, don't give you what you paid for and then they don't fix it.
