A GRANDFATHER has been left stunned after forking out £4,500 to fix his driveway only to be told by the council to rip it up – two years AFTER the work.
Cevdet Guven, 65, splashed out on the new paving after becoming worried the muddy grass and uneven pavers in his front yard were a danger to his family's safety.
The grandad saved up thousands to get a new driveway installed in 2020, with the pavers neatly lining up outside his home in Grays, Essex, for two years.
But in April this year, the bus driver was shocked to receive a letter from Thurrock Council warning he should have got permission and that he faced having to rip it all out.
He now faces paying out thousands to have the pavement removed.
Cevdet told The Sun: "It was another bit of stress – it’s going to cost more money.
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"But like come on, we’ve made the area look better, improved the slip hazard.
“This is very over complicated – it’s just a driveway. "
According to Thurrock Council, "it is not unusual" for planning permission to be needed for additional hardstandings, like block-paving gardens, driveways and porches.
The council said this is not specific to Thurrock, and is a nationwide rule.
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But Cevdet said this was the first he'd heard of needing permission.
The 65-year-old, who is not far off retiring, and wife Theresa, who has already retired, said they had spent three years saving up to fix their front yard.
He added: “But we needed to do it, it was dangerous, it was a trip hazard waiting to happen."
Now, they fear they'll have to "rip it up" at their own expense and cough up thousands more if they want the driveway redone, with permission, due to inflation.
And, it's money the family don't have sitting around.
The grandad said: “It is very stupid. It’s ridiculous. But, that’s the council for you.”
He said he could understand if they had adapted their front yard in a way that was dangerous, or blocking neighbours' sunlight – but it's not, and said: “I can’t see the point.”
This is very over complicated – it’s just a driveway
The letter from the Thurrock Council, sent April 19, stated they had seen the hardstanding at the front of their property, and said: "This kind of work is considered as permitted development.
"I have checked our records and cannot find any permission for this work.
"Therefore you must within 28 days of receiving this letter either: 1. Submit a planning application for permission for the work carried out; 2. Restore the front of your property to its original state removing any resultant materials."
It goes on to say: "Making an application does not necessarily mean that permission is granted as all applications are dealt with on their own merit."
The family say they have already paid £300-400 for the application and around £600-700 for someone to compile the correct paperwork for it.
They say now the fate of their driveway is in the hands of their neighbours, who received a letter asking their thoughts on it, and they are now sitting in limbo.
In a statement, a Thurrock Council media spokesman told The Sun: "It is not unusual for new residential properties to require planning permission for any additional hard-standing including block-paving gardens and driveways and porches.
"Homeowners should be made aware of these conditions when they buy the property or can check with the planning authority to see if conditions exist before they start any work.
"This is not peculiar to Thurrock and happens nationwide.
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"In this case the homeowners went ahead with work before making any checks or seeking the required planning permission so have retrospectively applied for the required permission.
"This application is still awaiting a decision."
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