A group of neighbours living in a major UK city have been locked in a bitter year-long council battle after it took away spaces from land they owned.
Folk living in Edinburgh’s Springfield area were informed their parking spaces were being taken from them by Edinburgh Council despite them legally owning the land they were situated on. It came after the group were told part of the road outside their homes was being adopted by the council.
The council told them the small car park would be painted with permit lines and that six homeowners would soon have to buy a permit to park outside, despite their title deeds saying each house came with a private parking space. It claims that Taylor Wimpey instructed the council to adopt the road even though the developer disputed those claims.
The developer claims it remains in contact with the council’s legal team with residents left in the dark for months. Maureen and Jimmy Stewart, as well as Ian Dick, previously expressed anger over the situation and say they will not give up their spaces for the council to make them permit holders only – having installed their own metal bollards between spaces.
Mr Stewart, 72, told Edinburgh Live that he and his wife have met with Edinburgh Council leader Cammy Day, who maintains the council does not have the authority to take over their land, although no major breakthrough has been made and the work remains outstanding.
He said: “We’re in the dark but we’re all convinced we’re in the right because of the legal documents.”
He added: “It’s absolutely ridiculous. This started before Covid and we’re no further forward. If they were to come down now I would just go out and say you’re not doing it and they would go away.
“The whole thing is a farce as far as I’m concerned and the council have shown their true colours.”
Despite the council’s eagerness to carry out the proposed work, Edinburgh Council leader Cammy Day said that he sympathises with the situation residents find themselves in and insists the land is theirs.
He said: “I’ve met with the residents affected a number of times as has my local councillor James Dalgleish and I understand there are now legal discussions about this. I am fully behind the residents and families at Springfield who, in their title deeds, clearly state that they own the piece of land outside their homes which has been suggested to become a controlled parking zone.”
Taylor Wimpey says it is not aware of any reason for the council to change the ownership arrangements for the parking spaces and is looking into the matter with their legal department.
