A BELOVED 20 foot-long elephant slide has been confiscated from a homeowner’s driveway due to complaints from neighbours.
Trevor Robinson, 71, said he would “pay any money” to get the colourful “monstrosity” back.
The decades-old play equipment was taken away from Trevor’s driveway by the council after receiving complaints[/caption]
Trevor had planned to let children in the neighbourhood to use the slide[/caption]
He acquired the eight-foot tall fibreglass elephant slide, named Ellie, two months ago after seeing sub-contractors preparing to remove it from a nearby leisure centre in Gillingham, Kent.
Trevor said: “I saw them taking it away [from the leisure park] and said, ‘no I will have it.’
“They thought I was joking.”
Ellie was then delivered to Trevor’s house in the suburb of Twydall, Kent for free.
But last Thursday, one of the sub-contractors returned to say the council was ordering him to take the slide away due to neighbour complaints.
Medway Council also labelled it an “unsafe structure”, and revealed intentions to dispose of it.
Trevor, who also owns two Jaguars and a Harley Davidson at his home, thinks that “jealousy” and a dislike for the Union Jack flag that is painted on the side of Ellie is what caused neighbours to complain.
“People loved it. I wanted to let kids and their parents come round and use it and give the money to charity.”
He added: “There are a few neighbours who don’t like me, but all their kids were waiting to have a go on it.”
The homeowner planned to install a pond in his back garden to go along with the slide, as well as his collection of garden ornaments.
Ellie, however, was too heavy to be lifted over his house, and a forklift driver just assembled the play equipment on Trevor’s driveway.
The elephant slide has been part of some of Trevor’s fondest memories from a young age, being situated at the Strand leisure park since he was a child.
He said: “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,” he continued.
Self-proclaimed “eccentric character” Trevor says he would even give away one of his Jaguar cars to have Ellie returned to him.
A Medway Council spokesperson said: “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.”
