Pensioner facing legal action after installing drive in front of his house

Pensioner facing legal action after installing drive in front of his house He had the lawn turned into a paved driveway to make it easier to get in and out of his home A pensioner said he has been threatened with legal action after turning a grass verge outside his home into a driveway. David Siggins, 85, paved over the area to make it easier to access his property due to his struggles with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mr Siggins, from Rochford, Essex, said he had been given the go-ahead by Rochford Council two years ago for his £2,200 driveway which is 3m wide by 5m long. But earlier this month, he was told the land belongs to the authority and must be restored. Mr Siggins, who relies on two crutches to get around, insisted he tried to follow the correct process before carrying out the work and is seeking legal advice. The former tiler, who has lived in the property for 42 years, said: “This has made me quite ill. I'm quite close to a breakdown. “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." Mr Siggins said the debacle goes back twenty years, when he was given permission by Essex Highways for a drop curb. He claimed that three months after work had completed, he was told by Rochford Council they wanted the curb reinstated and he was paid for the inconvenience. And in 2024, he contacted Essex County Council in 2024 about the verge with his plans for a driveway - but said was told the land was not under its control. Mr Siggins said: "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. "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 subsequent planning application was refused and an appeal was later dismissed - both of which Mr Siggins said he had no knowledge of. Now, with a deadline looming at the end of August, Mr Siggins, who received notice the driveway had to be removed a few weeks ago, said the situation has become increasingly stressful. Mr Siggins, who lives with his partner and stepson, said: “It is very stressful. It's getting me down. 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." Mr Siggins added that the grass verge had largely been maintained by him and his stepson over the years and noted that council workers have only recently begun regularly cutting it since the dispute arose. Rochford Council said the issue centres on ownership of the land and its status as public open space. A council spokesman 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 authority said Mr Siggins has been given until the end of August to consider how he wishes to proceed.