EXCLUSIVE: “Get Out of My Garden!” – Havering Pensioner Horrified To Find Builders Invade Without Warning As Council Investigate Planning Breach.

Collier Row Pensioner Left Shocked by Unauthorised Construction Work That Covers Her Garden In Rubble!

A Collier Row pensioner was left distressed and frightened after builders began work next door without any warning—leaving her garden covered in rubble and even demanding she move parts of her own property to make way for their construction.

Maureen, who lives on Collier Row Lane, was horrified to discover that building work had started on the premises adjacent to her home, which she said was once used by a cleaning company. “It was a cleaning company, but then a gang of builders started completely gutting the premises and began building a new extension,” she told The Havering Daily.

The work, which is believed to have commenced without any communication or apparent planning notice to neighbours, quickly spilled into Maureen’s life in a distressing way. “They smashed a wall to put an RSJ in, and the rubble came all into my garden,” she said. To make matters worse, Maureen said she then found a man in her garden, attempting to get her to remove part of her own garden.

“They then tried to get me to move parts of my garden so they could cement over parts of their extension,” she explained. “I suffer with health issues and not one person has cared about the impact this has had on me.“

Maureen’s son has since been in contact with the council and the local MP in a desperate bid to stop the builders from entering people’s gardens without consent. “I found them in my garden and called the police. I told them to get out. Not only have I never been informed of any work, but I now have a garden covered in rubble,” she added.

The building next door is now believed to be transforming into an off-licence, further alarming nearby residents. Communication has been another major hurdle, with Maureen noting that the builders do not speak much English, making it difficult to understand what’s going on.

But perhaps most disturbing was her interaction with Havering Council. “When I contacted the council, they informed me a man from the planning team was due to come out. Well, he did—but he never came to see me,” she said. When she called back to follow up, she was told, “He came to see the building works, not you.”

“No one has ever asked me about the impact it has had on me or the rest of the residents here. They are now building a huge outhouse and just doing what they want.“

The Havering Daily has contacted Havering Council for comment. A spokesperson told us: “

“The Council’s planning enforcement team are currently investigating reports of an alleged planning breach at 170 Collier Row Lane, Romford. 

“This property is also subject to an ongoing planning application, we expect the investigation to be concluded ahead of a planning decision on 28 July.”

This begs the question-how many buildings are going up without relevant planning permission and what punishment if any-do owners and builders face?

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