Trevor Robinson, 71, claims that the council removed his treasured fiberglass slide from his home in Gillingham, Kent, after complaints from his neighbours.
The septuagenarian had the 8ft tall slide delivered to his Twydall residence after noticing it being discarded from a local leisure park two months prior.
Originally, Trevor intended to fashion a pond in his garden for ‘Ellie’ the slide, hoping to provide joy for local children.
But Ellie was too heavy to carry into the back garden so the retired forklift driver assembled it in his driveway instead.
However Medway Council has now removed it after “complaints” – calling it an “unsafe structure”.
Trevor recounted: “I saw them taking it away [from the leisure park] and said, ‘no I will have it.’ They thought I was joking. Then he delivered it to my house for free.”
He added: “People loved it. I wanted to let kids and their parents come round and use it and give the money to charity.”
Trevor had envisioned using a crane to hoist Ellie over his house, to become the “crowning glory” of his collection of garden ornaments.
Yet, last Thursday, a sub-contractor informed him that due to complaints, the council had instructed the removal of the slide, according to Trevor’s account.
Trevor, a local lifelong visitor to the Strand leisure park and Ellie the elephant’s admirer, fondly recalls the attraction being part of his happiest memories.
The “eccentric character” is now ready to exchange one of his beloved Jaguar cars to reclaim Ellie.
He expressed: “I think it is diabolical. All the kids loved it. If they haven’t broken it up then I will pay to get it back. I miss it, it has been a part of my life for so long.
“Everyone is really upset that it is gone. I want to get it back, I don’t care what it costs. I will pay any money – I just want her back.
“If they let me have it back then they can have my Jaguar.”
Speculating on the reason for a complaint that led to the removal, Trevor suggests “jealousy” and animosity towards the Union Jack flag adorning the toy are to blame.
Trevor said: “Ellie the elephant has had to go to the great landfill in the sky because my neighbour didn’t like her.
“My neighbours don’t like me because they are jealous. I have two Jaguars, a Harley Davidson, and an elephant, so they wanted to upset me.
“It was painted with Union Jacks on the side. There are a few neighbours who don’t like me, but all their kids were waiting to have a go on it.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Medway Council explained: “During our annual health and safety audit of The Strand, the slide, which is now more than 30 years old, was not deemed to be safe so we took the decision to remove it.
“Medway Norse arranged for a sub-contractor to remove the structure. Once we became aware that a resident had the slide following complaints, we arranged for it to be picked up so it can be safely disposed of as it is an unsafe structure.”