A West Lothian couple have been left reeling after a planning mix up saw them potentially waste a £22,000 garden makeover.
The couple had bought a strip of unused land next to their Livingston home and spent their life savings turning it into a nice outdoor space.
But the Daily Record reports they have now been ordered to return it to its original state because they had broken planning rules.
The couple, who didn't think they would need planning permission, had erected a fence and landscaped the garden turning it into an outdoor space for their four kids.
However, they later learned that they had breached planning rules by not applying for permission, and were told to return the space to its original state.
Adam and teacher wife Barbara appealed the decision, but the Scottish Government backed the council's original decision.
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.”
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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.”
