NEIGHBOURS pelted a fellow homeowner with dog poo and urinated on their walls in a row over a blocked ‘public’ footpath, it is claimed.
War first erupted on a leafy Millionaires Row street in Hove, East Sussex, months ago over the disputed closure, but perpetrators the Shahin family say it’s their land.
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Police were called for the third time in a fortnight this week amid scenes of fury after council workers turned up to carry out an assessment on the footpath.
Voices were raised in the two-hour confrontation as workers were confronted by the family at the centre of the controversy.
No arrests were made.
The rumpus first began on Woodland Drove – an upmarket suburb that boasts £2 million mansions – last October when a wall blew down in a storm.
The rubble and storm-damaged fencing fell into a well-used public footpath that runs between two exclusive £1.2m homes.
The owner of the house was set to carry out the work but then vacated the property, and bricks and fencing were left lying dangerously in the footpath.
Residents in the neighbouring house erected an 9ft wire fence blocking off the public right of way.
The family then claimed the passageway between the two properties was not a public right of way at all and was actually owned by them.
They have written to the council asserting their right to the land claiming they had previously granted “permissive access” to the footpath but were now withdrawing it.
WAR OF WORDS
A war of words erupted between neighbours who claim they have used the passageway for decades to walk their dogs in nearby woods and visit a parade of shops.
On Tuesday, council workers visited the scene so they could assess repairs to the storm-damaged wall.
However, on arrival they were confronted by Sohail Shahin, 30 – the son of the homeowner – who disputed their right to access the footpath.
He said the council are aware the family are exercising their right to withdraw permissive access to the pathway.
For their own protection, workers from Brighton & Hove City Council called police to accompany them in their task.
Eventually they were able to get the homeowner to remove padlocks on the fencing and gained access to the passageway.
A team of council workers and contractors were able to assess the damage and the likely work needed to make it good.
But 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.
“The row with our neighbours has been terrible. I have had people throwing dog mess into my house, people urinating against my walls and people spitting into my garden.
“It’s really very, very stressful. I can’t believe it has blown up into such a commotion but we are only doing what is right.”
Mr Shahin, a gas engineer, said: “I have lived here for the past 22 years and brought up my family here. I feel we are being unfairly vilified.
“But the council has to realise that we have a claim on the land.”
Sohail Shahin said: “This is going straight to a court of law. We’ll sue the council for this.
“They’re claiming it is a public right of way but they’re just trying to take what is rightfully ours.”
One council worker, who would not be named, said: “It’s outrageous that police have be called to ensure our safety. We shouldn’t have to face abuse and threats when we are just trying to do our work.
“This is a public right of way and needs to be opened up to the public as soon as possible.
“It has been used for decades by the public and suddenly this family claim they own it. It doesn’t add up.”
One resident, who would not be named, said: “This has been rumbling on for months and months and the family at the centre have made a right nuisance of themselves and are now at war with almost everyone.
“Enough is enough. If there are any further threats from this family towards neighbours then arrests have to be made.”
Councillor Trevor Muten, cabinet member for Transport, Parking and Public Realm at Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “We have now made a legal order confirming our ownership of the land and our team has been back today to fully assess the damage to the wall so work can begin as soon as possible and the footpath can start being used again.
A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: “We assisted the local authority in case of breach of peace. No arrests were made.”
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