A ROW has broken out between neighbours after a builder turned a communal patch of grass into his own yard.

Builder Kevin Eggleton lives in Bates Way, a relatively new development just off Moredon Road.

In June this year the building firm in which he is a partner took on the job of building an extension at the house next door.

But for the last two months the triangle of grass and two trees outside Mr Eggleton’s house has been used as a storage space for tools, building materials and rubble.

Much of the grass has been destroyed, one of the healthy trees on the tiny garden has been killed and now lies dead on a pile of builder’s waste – and Mr Eggleton’s neighbours are angry about it.

Sam Slater, who lives next door to Mr Eggleton on the other side, said: “He’s been using is has his yard and now his refuse tip for weeks. He’s also had cables running out from his house across the pavement to the cement mixer.

“Lorries back up to it, I’ve had to hold my young son out of the way. It’s been very dangerous.”

Mr Slater said he is not unsympathetic to Mr Eggleton but is unhappy about how he’s gone about things.

He said: “I’m an electrician myself – I know what goes on in building and what you need to do. But this has totally ruined the grass right outside my house, it’s killed one of the trees and it’s now being used as a bin.”

Mr Eggleton said he regretted the way things have turned out.

He said a split between him and the builder he asked to do the job has led to s delay and he has wound up his company GK Builders and Landscapers.

He said: “The job should have just taken three to four weeks, but the other builder just walked off the job. I’ve got another one in and it’s all going ahead now.

“Obviously I’ve fallen out with the neighbours so that’s not good.”

Mr Eggleton said the rubble would be taken away as soon as possible and the flagstones used in the building job moved onto site.

He said: “The rubbish should be gone very soon. I’ve promised to restore the grass and tree. It’ll be proper turf with good grass which should be better than the original which was full of weeds.”

Neighbours have involved Swindon Borough Council and planning enforcement officers have spoken to Mr Eggleton.