A GARDEN hut in a quiet Gourock housing estate put up without permission is at the centre of a neighbourhood dispute over fire risk fears.

Residents of flats in Dunrobin Drive have complained after one householder put the structure up without seeking planning approval.

Retrospective documents submitted to the council late last year said the householder was unaware it was required for the wooden structure.

However, neighbours Jim and Margaret Paterson, who live in the same building and have been in their flat for 18 years, insist the hut poses a potential danger and should be removed.

Jim, 79, said: "Building started around six weeks ago.

"Two joiners showed up and one spark and then they started working in the garden and we weren't told anything.

"The structure kept getting bigger and bigger.

"Before that and throughout the whole time, the neighbour never knocked on our door or spoke with us.

"This is a nice community - we have never had any bother the whole 18 years we lived here and have always loved the place.

"Everyone knows one another, so she should have involved everyone."

Jim's wife Margaret, 77, added: "I was shocked to see planning permission was not requested.

"What worries us is that it's so large and so close to the house.

"One of our friends lost their house in a fire because of a garden shed.

"That is a scary thought - we wouldn't want that to happen to us.

"I just want the council to know that I want to be safe, without a fire hazard right beside my home."

Mark Lewis another neighbour who lives in the block, is also concerned about the size of the hut and feels that is a fire hazard..

The 37-year-old, who has lived in the building for around three years, said: "The neighbour never spoke to me and just went ahead with it.

"I saw the base of it when it was first being built and could see it would be quite large.

"My worry is if there were to be a fire the building would get damaged, because the gap between the shed and the house is the width of my arm.

"If this was a detached house then maybe you can do things on your own, but this is a four-in-a-block.

"If it was me, I would have spoken with neighbours and told them my plans."

The planning application for the wooden structure is currently under consideration by the council.

The Tele contacted the resident who had the hut built but they declined to comment.

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