I’m being forced to knock down my £50,000 extension after a nosey neighbour grassed me up to the council
A GRAN claimed she is being forced to knock down her £50,000 extension after a neighbour grassed her to the council.
Linda Webb, 66, alleged a resident took a photo of builders going into her property and sent it to planning officials.
But the gran-of-two is refusing to tear down her single-storey rear extension in Wraysbury, Berkshire, as the two-year dispute rages on.
She said: ”A neighbour objected to my sun room.
“Even my friend on the road got planning permission when they moved in – and she objected.”
Her son Gordon added: “A building goes up and she complains. The rest of the time she keeps to herself.”
The neighbour did not want to comment when approached by The Sun.
Linda added: “I just can’t understand why it’s such a bad thing. It’s not like I’ve built another house on my land.
“The garden has really been my full recreation. Now that I can’t do as much, we thought it would be a good idea that brings me into the garden.”
Linda used her inheritance on extending her living room out onto her patio in 2019.
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She said builders wrongly assured her she did not need planning permission.
But one neighbour, who did not report Linda to the council, said it is unfair on those who got permission for their extensions.
They told The Sun: “It’s a difficult one. I can see where the council is coming from.
“If you haven’t put planning permission in and afterwards are allowed to keep it then no rules and regulations are being followed.
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“Others on the street have had extensions and have got planning permission. We used an architect and it cost thousands.
“Sometimes you think ‘is that really fair that we had to go through that process?’.
“If it didn’t get knocked down I think it would be unfair on people who have done it.
“The issue did get mentioned to Linda, but she said she didn’t need permission.
“We weren’t sure but didn’t look further into it because we assumed she would have checked it all out. You shouldn’t believe builders.”
All of Linda’s retrospective planning applications have been rejected and she accused Windsor and Maidenhead Council of trying to make an example of her.
She added: They do seem sort of gleeful – which sounds awful – but it does seem to be that way, ‘Haha we’ve won, you’ve got to take it down’.”
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A council spokesman said: “The onus is on owners and developers to follow planning policy and controls, seek early guidance from the council if needed and ensure they have in place any relevant consents or authorisation before undertaking works.
“The council issues enforcement notices if it believes there has been a breach of planning control and it is expedient to take formal action.”