A MAN from Westbury has found himself battling Wiltshire Council over the state of his garden, saying he should be entitled to keep whatever he wants on his own land - but he faces a £3,200 bill if the council carry out a threat to clear it up for him.

David Osborn, 50, of Chalford is currently in dispute with the council over his right to store whatever he wants in his garden, and claims he recently returned home to find his garden gate broken and that items had been put in a skip.

Mr Osborn said: “My home isn’t a council house, it is a privately owned, mortgaged home. I came back and everything was in a skip. I feel like this is against my human rights, I have always paid my mortgage but the neighbours complain about my property. I have not been very well because I have depression and I have been constantly hounded by the council about my garden. I just don’t know what I can do legally.

“When I came back and found all of my things in the skip I noticed all my work tools were in there, I need them and I don’t want them to be damaged.”

Wiltshire Council sent Mr Osborn a Section 215 notice, stating that the area is being adversely affected by the state of Mr Osborn’s garden. The notice explains the council are requesting Mr Osborn to remove the cars that are parked on his front lawn and also remove rubbish from the garden. A letter sent to Mr Osborn on June 13 says the council now intend to carry out direct action and clear the site and warns that he could have to pay the £3,200 clean-up cost.

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: "When we receive complaints about untidy land we ask the landowner to tidy it up. If they don't do this, we are able to issue a Section 215 notice requiring the owner to clear it up. If they do not comply, we can then clear the land ourselves and charge the landowner - this is always a last resort."

The council has contacted Mr Osborn in an effort to explain the notice, but he feels the pressure on him is too much.

“I kept getting calls and I really didn’t want to answer because of my health. I have worked my whole life, I have never wanted to be on benefits. I am working at the moment but I am worried to leave my home in case my property is thrown away,” he said.