FUMING homeowners say their millionaire neighbour is blocking them from using a public footpath and screams at them in the street.
Tempers have flared in the months-long neighbour row in Hove near Brighton – with residents saying it’s like living in a warzone.
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The spat began when a wall blew down in a storm last October, blocking a public footpath running between two £1.2m homes.
A 10ft wire fence was erected so the owners of the property could clear the path and carry out repairs.
But almost a year on nothing has been done to clear the rubble from the wall and the alleyway remains closed.
Residents have complained to the council – demanding repair work be carried out immediately to reopen the public right of way.
But they claimed they are being intimidated by the neighbour who lives on the other side of the footpath.
They said the neighbour is now opposing the reopening of the footpath.
At a public meeting outside the alley last Friday the man allegedly harangued councillors and neighbours – drowning out complaints.
Many residents say they are so fed up with the long-running conflict they are thinking of selling their homes.
One resident said: ‘This used to be a really lovely place to live and these are all very desirable properties.
“But it is like a war zone round here at the moment. People have been threatened.
“They have been intimidated and sworn at if they go anywhere near the fence. It’s been a total nightmare.”
Cops have been called to deal with the furore at least twice in the past 10 days.
Another resident said: “I’ve been screamed at in the street and verbally abused in front of my children.
“It’s absolutely shocking what has been going on and yet the police seem powerless to act.
“I am seriously thinking about whether I want to live in an area where there is so much conflict. It’s not healthy.”
A third local resident said: “I don’t want to put my head above the parapet.
“The threats and intimidation are too serious to take lightly. We’ve been in touch with the police about it.”
A local named Charles said: “It’s got out of hand and now one family is taking the law into its own hands.
“I think the police need to take action before the matter becomes more inflamed.”
The path is still blocked by rubble from a wall and storm-damaged fencing.
Councillor Trevor Muten said the council aimed to reopen the public footpath in days rather than weeks.
He said: “We now intend to issue a section 78 notice under the Building Act 1984.
“It gives us, as the local authority, the power to remove dangerous structures.
“This is the quickest, most practical solution to getting the footpath reopened as soon as possible following the legal process.”
Muten said that rather than the owner, the council would carry out the works.
He said the council would erect fencing on both sides of the footpath to cover any gaps and safety risks.
The councillor said: “We then intend to put up CCTV cameras to monitor the path and reinstate the public footpath signage.
“Any signs remaining that indicate the footpath is private are incorrect and will be removed.
“We will then reopen the path. We hope all this can be done in days, rather than weeks.
“We accept we should have acted sooner but we have now made this a priority.
“We are working to get this path opened as soon as possible. This is a much-loved footpath.
“It is there to be used and enjoyed by local residents and I’m determined this is done quickly.”
The occupants of the house were approached for comment but declined to comment.
Sussex Police said: “We are investigating a report of threats made outside an address in Hove, at about 5.30pm on September 13.
“Witnesses or anyone with any information or footage is asked to contact police online or call 101 quoting serial 117 of 14/09.”