A FOUR-year planning battle came to an abrupt end when workmen tore down an unlawful extension at a Harefield home.

Since 2009, Hillingdon Council has been locked in battle with Ted O’Dea and his wife, the owners of Kylemore House, in Hill End Road, in a bid to get them to remove an outhouse built without planning permission.

At about 9am on Wednesday, November 6, a council team of 11 descended on the large, brick property on the edge of the village. The team got access to the land after a locksmith disabled the electric gates.

Mrs O’Dea – her first name is not known – was reported to have been very vocal in her protests as they carried out the work, and a council spokesman confirmed there was some resistance which might have escalated, so the police were called, but they were on site for less than five minutes.

It took six contractors and an electrician to remove the brick building, overseen by a council planning enforcement officer.

Mr O’Dea helped the workers empty the building of a drinks cabinet and sofas before a JCB digger pulled down the walls. He has never responded to the Gazette’s request for a comment.

The windows and French doors were set aside at the request of Mr O’Dea, while all the other rubble was loaded onto a tipper lorry and removed from the site. The work was complete by 1.30pm.

James Rodger, the council’s head of planning, green spaces and culture, summed up the timeline of the long-running dispute.

“We removed the outbuilding after the owner first ignored planning rules, then planning enforcement notices and finally court orders, which insisted he demolish this illegal extension, for a number of years,” he said.

“We will continue to take firm action against breaches of planning regulations in order to protect the built and natural environment for the benefit of our residents.’’

Neighbour Tina Wane, whose cottage is next to Kylemore House, said she is very happy the saga has come to an end.

“Congratulations to the planning enforcement team,” she said.

“It has taken the council many years and no doubt cost a considerable amount of money to achieve the removal of an extension which should never have been built in the first place.”