Felpham residents' anger as part of their gardens are dug up

An 86-year-old says the first she knew about it was workmen turning up at her door to dig up the end of her garden to install a paving curb.

A Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes spokesman said it was part of the Highways Agency adopting the road and letters were hand delivered several weeks ago.

Mary Hart, of Blackthorne Avenue in the Blake’s Mead development, said: “I have lived here for three and only now they say my front garden has to be dug up to make room for a paving curb.

“They are doing it all along our road and we are all elderly, we have no one to speak to.

“I have lost part of my nice lawn, so has my next-door neighbour who’s 82, and there are people here who have spent money on putting walls and features in their gardens and it’s all having to be demolished.”

Mrs Hart said she was not visited by anyone in her home, as she says others were, before workmen started on Wednesday.

She said the work was now being carried out but instead of losing a metre of her garden, as first planned, a compromise has seen less land removed.

She said the only letter she received from was a general note from the developer advising that work was being carried out in order for the council could adopt the highway.

Her daughter Marian Hart, who also lives there, said: “Our deeds are very unclear, it’s only when you magnify them that it looks like there’s a strip for this curb.

“David Wilson is being very bullish about this, but because the road is being adopted by Highways I don’t think legally there’s anything we can do about it.”

A spokesman for Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes said: “These works form part of the standard highways adoption plan for the Felpham development.

“The area being adopted at this time forms part of a standard service strip and all boundaries are clearly marked on conveyancing plans and title deeds.

“We endeavour to keep everyone affected by works updated and all residents were given prior notice of these works via hand-delivered letters several weeks ago.”

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