Pensioner told to remove driveway he built on land owned by the council

An 85-year-old pensioner is facing the threat of legal action after being ordered to remove a driverway he built outside his home.

David Siggins, from Rochford, Essex, spent £2,200 transforming a grass verge into a block-paved driveway, saying he needed easier access to his property because he has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The 85-year-old, who uses two crutches and struggles to walk, claimed that he had been given permission by Rochford Council to build the driveway.

However, earlier this month, he was told that the land belongs to the authroity and it must be returned to its original state.

The former tiler, who has lived at the property for 42 years, says he is now ‘close to a breakdown’ after trying to follow the correct process, and has no spoken to a solicitor.

‘This has made me quite ill,’ he said. ‘I cannot walk, that’s the problem. I use two crutches. It just seems so unfair.

‘It looks nice – it certainly looks better than the grass.

‘Two years ago I was told they didn’t own the land so I could do what I wanted with it. I did try.’

David said the dispute dates back 20 years, when he was allegedly given permission by Essex Highways to build a dropped kerb outside his home.

Three months after the work was completed, he claimed Rochford Council told him it wanted the kerb reinstated and paid him compensation for the inconvenience.

Then, in 2024, he contacted Essex County Council about his plans to turn the verge into a driveway, and he said he was told that the land was not under its control.

‘I spoke to a very nice planning officer at Rochford Council who advised me to speak to Essex Highways. They told me it wasn’t anything to do with them,’ he said.

‘I went back to Rochford Council and I was told they definitely didn’t own it so I should go ahead. I have it in writing it was confirmed we could do it.’

However, a planning application was later refused and an appeal dismissed, which David says he was unaware of at the time.

Now, the old-age pensioner has been given an order instructing him to remove the driveway.

‘It’s very stressful. It’s getting me down,’ he said.

‘I’ve not had any complaints. The close we live in has 13 houses and there are 31 vehicles.

‘They’re all really relieved I’ve got [the driveway] as I can get my cars off the road as there’s more space. I’ve got a solicitor involved.’

A council spokesperson has said: ‘The resident removed a grass verge owned by Rochford District Council to install a block-paved driveway. The council has received a number of complaints.

‘The grass verge forms part of a larger title that is subject to restrictions due to its designation as public open space.

‘A planning application for the work that was previously submitted by the resident had been refused and an appeal dismissed.’

The council said David has until the end of August to consider how he wishes to proceed.