Disabled pensioner spends £2.2K on new driveway, told to rip it up

David Siggins, 85, has said the row with his local council has left him “close to a breakdown” following the installation of the 3m by 5m driveway in his home in Rochford, Essex.

Mr Siggins claims he was given the go-ahead by Rochford Council two years ago, checking if he was allowed to use the land as he began the process to after have the build cleared by council.

The former tiler, who relies on two crutches to get around, said he had the driveway built to make access to his home easier because of his struggles with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Council told him after he inquired about the grass verge that it did not belong to council, and thus was given the green-light to proceed with his driveway.

But that all changed earlier this month, when Rochford Council changed its tune and advised him that the grass verge does, in fact, belong to them and that it must be restored to its former grassy condition.

Mr Siggins has said he tried to follow the correct processes regarding the build before spending £2,200 on the driveway. He is now seeking legal advice.

“This has made me quite ill. I’m quite close to a breakdown,” 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.”

The 85-year-old, who has lived at the property for 42 years, said the dispute dates back around two decades, when he was granted permission by Essex Highways for a dropped kerb.

He claimed that three months after the work was completed, Rochford Council told him it wanted the kerb reinstated and paid him for the inconvenience.

So, fast-forward to now, and it would seem a similar game is afoot. In 2024, Mr Siggins claims contacted Essex County Council about his plans to install a driveway over the grass verge, but was told the land was not under its control.

He was directed to Rochford Council, which advised him the council did not own the land and that he could proceed.

“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 subsequent planning application was refused, and an appeal was dismissed – with Mr Siggins claiming he was unaware of either decision.

He has now been given until the end of August to decide how he will proceed after receiving notice that the driveway must be removed.

Mr Siggins, who lives at Rochford home with his partner and stepson, said the row was “getting me down”.

“I’ve not had any complaints. The close we live in has 13 houses and there are 31 vehicles,” he said.

“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.”

The elderly man added that the grass verge had largely been maintained by himself and his stepson over the years. He stated that council workers had just recently begun cutting the grass there… since the driveway dispute started.

According to Rochford Council, the dispute hinges on the ownership of the land and its status as public open space.

A council spokesperson said: “The resident removed a grass verge owned by Rochford District Council to install a block-paved driveway.

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

The spokesperson claimed that council has received “a number of complaints” about the driveway, and that “a planning application for the work that was previously submitted by the resident had been refused, and an appeal dismissed”.

Rochford council said Mr Siggins had a deadline of the end of August to either remove the driveway or to decide how to proceed further.