Couple ordered to turn land they bought back into weeds
A COUPLE have been ordered to turn their new garden back into wasteland after spending £22,000 life savings on it.
Adam and Barbara Keatinge bought the land next to their home in Livingston last year and turned it into a garden area for their four children.
They didn’t think they would need planning permission as similar plots had been bought by other homeowners.
The couple erected a fence and landscaped the garden and began enjoying extra sunshine at the rear of the property. But they were
BY DAVID MEIKLE reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk horrified when West Lothian Council said they had broken the rules and would have to return it to its original state.
Adam, a linen firm boss and teacher Barbara appealed the decision to the Scottish
Government, which backed the council.
Adam said: “Our solicitor informed us that they had dealt with the sale of two of the adjoining plots at the top of our estate that had been converted into extended gardens and that as our change of land use was the same, then planning permission should not be required.
“We have found the whole episode very exhausting. We now have three months to remove the fence, reinstall the original fence and return the land to its original condition.
“It has cost us a lot of money and time for a strip of land that is 200 square metres. ”
West Lothian Council said: “The change of use and erection of the fence is not supported and was refused planning permission due to the impact on the integrity of the open space/woodland.”