Couple in battle to stop developer taking 10ft of land in their garden to build new housing estate
A COUPLE are fighting to stop a developer from taking ten feet of land in their garden to build a new housing estate.
Laura and John Allen in their 70s say developer Keigar Homes tried to claim a strip of land they say belong to the houses on their road.
A perimeter fence has already been installed in front of their neighbours' houses in Winterton, North Lincolnshire, but would cut through their land if it continued.
Speaking to GrimsbyLive, Laura, 77, said: "When I saw the workers putting a fence up across the other gardens, I ran up the garden and shouted at them to stop.
"I have lived in this house for more than 20 years and was born in the house next door. I know exactly where the garden ends.
"I asked the workmen how they knew where the boundary was and they said it was on their plan.
"The other houses may not have put a fence up at the end of their property, but ours has been there for years.
"I wasn't about to let them take a bit of our garden."
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Keigar Homes was granted permission to build 135 homes on the site by North Lincolnshire Council in 2019.
The dispute began on October 8 when Laura confronted employees.
The couple say they are not trying to steal land, but simply want what is ours.
They have now been assured that nothing will happen until the company checks with the Land Registry.
They say they are confident that it will show that they are in the right and the houses' gardens originally extended even further.
John, 74, said: "Laura's father lived next door and used to get one shilling a week from the electric company because the wires went over his land.
"Our garden is on the same level, so that shows to us that this is our garden."
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They say that other residents haven't established clear boundaries at the end of the gardens but they have fenced theirs off to let a dog exercise.
Grandson Robby said: "These problems are causing them a great deal of stress, and they have been worried that work would start without them realising.
"My grandmother knows the area and boundaries better than almost anyone."
Keigar Homes has been contacted for comment.
