RESIDENTS in Grappenhall are furious after a neighbour on another street decided to extend his garden onto a patch of grass on their road.

Homeowners on Springfield Avenue have started a petition after they woke up to discover that a green space where they said children play and people walk their dogs had been dug up.

Jackie Perkins, who has lived on the street for 33 years, said a number of residents were upset when neighbour Rob Kinder, who lives on Windsor Drive, decided to extend his garden onto the grass.

She said: “It’s not fair that residents in another avenue can take over another piece of land on our road.

“It has always been green on this part of the avenue and we want to keep it green. It’s so disrespectful, he’s upsetting everybody.

“He’s planning to dig back 12ft, practically to the pavement. It’s getting out of hand.”

Another resident, Helen Gurnani, said they have already collected 45 signatures for a petition asking the council and MPs for help to stop the land grab.

She said Springfield Avenue residents have maintained the patch of grass, paying for it to be cut and sometimes parking their cars on it to ease congestion on the narrow road.

But Mr Kinder said he had spoken with homeowners on Springfield Avenue about his plan to extend his garden and hoped to reach a compromise with them.

He said: “Both sides know that the land isn’t owned but the residents at the back of my property use it for parking.

“I am in talks with solicitors about the ownership of the land.”

No application for planning permission has been made to extend a garden onto the land but top soil has been dug up and neighbours say work has begun to construct a fence.

Mr Kinder could be breaking planning rules if he puts up a fence or another large structure without planning permission but the takeover of land can only be reported as trespassing by the landowner.

However it is understood the council does not own the land and as the landowner has not come forward, the council cannot take any action at this stage.

Jackie said: “I have said from the beginning that we don’t want any animosity. We have known each other for years and we have been friends but he is doing something that is upsetting all the residents.”

Cllr Ryan Bate was contacted by homeowners on Springfield Avenue and said: “I can understand the frustration for residents of both Springfield Avenue and Windsor Drive.

“The former are concerned with the loss of their view and open space, while the latter are questioning why they shouldn’t follow the precedent set by some of their neighbours.

“I am currently looking into the legal guidance around this complex situation. It is essential that people act in accordance with the law and if the law is unclear, as is the case here, then people need to act fairly, with common sense and with their neighbours in mind.”