Neighbours are arguing over a footpath in Hove (Image: Brighton Pictures)
There is chaos on Millionaires’ Row as furious neighbours protest after a huge blockade.
The grand homes in Woodland Drive, Hove, go for more than £1million but this hasn’t stopped locals from clashing over a spiralling dispute.
In October of last year, a wall blew down in a storm, falling into the well-used footpath which runs between two £1.2m homes. The owner of the house was due to do the repairs but vacated the property, leaving bricks and fencing on the pathway.
Occupants of the neighbouring property put up a 10ft fence, blocking off the public footpath and claiming the land belonged to them.
Nader Shahin, owner of the property, said: “The council know about our legal claim to this land. We have always granted permissive access to it but it’s not safe now.
A wall blew over in a storm, onto a footpath (Image: Brighton Pictures)
“I have lived here for the past 22 years and brought up my family here. I feel we are being unfairly vilified. The council has to realise that we have a legal claim on the land.”
Others in their community say they have used the path for decades to walk their dogs in the woods and get to the local shops.
When the council visited the footpath last week to assess it, they were reportedly confronted by the family, causing the police to be called for the third time in a fortnight.
So far, two people have been arrested due to the chaos, with a 30-year-old man arrested last week on suspicion of assault.
Brighton and Hove Council have said they will put CCTV cameras up and remove all “private property” signs to keep the path open.
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Councillor Trevor Muten, said: “We understand the frustration of the local community and have made this a priority. There are bridges we still need to cross, but we have a firm plan and are acting decisively on this.
“We said we would try to get this footpath open and being enjoyed again as quickly as we can and that is very much still our goal.”
One resident, who would not be named, said: “This has been rumbling on for months and months and neither the police or the council have done anything to ensure that a public right of way stays open.
“One family should not be permitted to decide who can and can’t use a public footpath. Someone needs to enforce the law but both the council and the police have been very slow to act on this.”