• Home
  • News
  • World
  • Politics
  • Money
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Tech
    • Web Stories
    • Spotlight
    • Press Release
What's On

Southport murders one year on from girls’ brave fight to ‘most dangerous’ prisoner

29 July 2025

Toddler escapes horror animal attack after ‘chewing venomous snake to death’

29 July 2025

‘Beauty injections poisoned my body and left me partially paralysed’

29 July 2025

Santander customers to lose bank service at some branches in days in major blow

29 July 2025

Give your old Kindle to Amazon and you’ll get something much better for less

29 July 2025

Golf star dubbed ‘female Tiger Woods’ admits she doesn’t do ‘rubbish’ training

29 July 2025

Britain’s iconic art deco lido re-opens with beach and bar after £4.5million revamp

29 July 2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Trending
  • Southport murders one year on from girls’ brave fight to ‘most dangerous’ prisoner
  • Toddler escapes horror animal attack after ‘chewing venomous snake to death’
  • ‘Beauty injections poisoned my body and left me partially paralysed’
  • Santander customers to lose bank service at some branches in days in major blow
  • Give your old Kindle to Amazon and you’ll get something much better for less
  • Golf star dubbed ‘female Tiger Woods’ admits she doesn’t do ‘rubbish’ training
  • Britain’s iconic art deco lido re-opens with beach and bar after £4.5million revamp
  • Boots drops £28 ‘miracle’ face cream with ‘noticeable results’ to £10
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
England TimesEngland Times
Demo
  • Home
  • News
  • World
  • Politics
  • Money
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Tech
    • Web Stories
    • Spotlight
    • Press Release
England TimesEngland Times
Home » Couple suing neighbours over ‘picnic-ruining fence’ told to rip up own patio
News

Couple suing neighbours over ‘picnic-ruining fence’ told to rip up own patio

By staff6 May 2025No Comments3 Mins Read

Helen Faber and her partner Dominic Miles wanted a fence erected next to their cottage ripped up but were denied and told to take down their patio, the High Court heard

Helen Faber & Dominic Miles outside London's High Court
Helen Faber and Dominic Miles outside London’s High Court(Image: Champion News)

A complaint by a couple who sued their neighbour over their fence backfired when they were themselves ordered to rip up a patio.

Helen Faber and her partner Dominic Miles were left fuming when they returned from France to their country cottage in Oxfordshire to find a new fence had been erected in their absence by Richard and Katherine Reid. They claimed it narrowed a path leading to part of their back garden by 40cm which caused a “nuisance” should they decide to take a picnic to their patio. However the move backfired when it was ruled there was no nuisance – and the pair were told to rip up their patio and remove an oil central heating pipe.

READ MORE: Debenhams axes £700 five piece rattan furniture set by £325 ready for outdoor hosting

Helen Faber & Dominic Miles' patio
The patio the couple were told to take down(Image: Supplied by Champion News)

The couple challenged the ruling, which is being heard in the High Court. They argued it was wrong for the judge to order them to remove the pipe, leaving them with no heating or hot water system. Steven Taylor, for Faber and Miles, said: “The judge wrongly concluded by creating the two near 90 degree bends in the right of way and by narrowing it by about 33% there was no substantial interference.

“The judge was wrong because …it cannot be said to be unreasonable for the claimants to insist on being able to use the disputed way when carrying a 1m wide chattel, for example a picnic tray with full glasses thereon.

“The pre-existing fence respected the 4ft width of the disputed way. The 2021 fence had reduced the disputed way to 2ft 3in at its narrowest point (and) rendered it difficult to traverse, particularly when transporting logs, garden waste and wheelie bins.

Fence
The fence being disputed by the couples(Image: Supplied by Champion News)

“A 4ft way can be conveniently used, for example to carry a large box along the way or a large picnic tray laden with food and drinks. If the box or tray is 3ft 11in wide it can just get through without spilling the drinks. It is submitted that even a small reduction in the width of a 4ft walkway amounts to a substantial interference.”

Anya Newman, for Mr and Mrs Reid, argued Judge Clarke was right in her ruling at the county court and that the fence should stay and the patio and pipe should be removed. She said: “The dispute arose after the respondents (Mr and Mrs Reid) replaced an old fence at the rear of their garden.

“It was agreed the route of the fence was somewhat different to the previous fence, it is now dog-legged instead of running at one angle. After initially being happy with the replacement fence, the appellants raised issue about its positioning.

“The respondents denied the new fence, save for one small section, had changed position from the previous fence. However, they asserted this change did not substantially interfere with the right of way.

“Due to the decision on the boundary, the patio of the appellants’ which they had used to place patio furniture and a gas canister was a trespass. The raised patio ought to be removed by the appellants.”

Mr Justice Smith has now reserved his ruling on the case, to be given at a later date.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email

Related News

Southport murders one year on from girls’ brave fight to ‘most dangerous’ prisoner

29 July 2025

‘We turned up a year early for our easyJet flight’

29 July 2025

M60 and M62 LIVE: Traffic and delays as spillage closes major motorway lanes

29 July 2025

Brits reveal top 30 ‘mic drop’ moments: From nailing jokes to mastering tricky skills

29 July 2025

‘Ryanair wouldn’t refund £827 flights unless my husband did it – but he’s dead’

29 July 2025

Brits enjoy five unforgettable moments a year – capturing most on their phones

29 July 2025
Latest News

Toddler escapes horror animal attack after ‘chewing venomous snake to death’

29 July 2025

‘Beauty injections poisoned my body and left me partially paralysed’

29 July 2025

Santander customers to lose bank service at some branches in days in major blow

29 July 2025

Give your old Kindle to Amazon and you’ll get something much better for less

29 July 2025
Stay In Touch
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo
Don't Miss
Sports

Golf star dubbed ‘female Tiger Woods’ admits she doesn’t do ‘rubbish’ training

By staff29 July 20250

One AIG Women’s Open contender was just nine when she was compared to Tiger Woods,…

Britain’s iconic art deco lido re-opens with beach and bar after £4.5million revamp

29 July 2025

Boots drops £28 ‘miracle’ face cream with ‘noticeable results’ to £10

29 July 2025

Drivers buying cars with low mileage hit with fresh warning over little-known issue

29 July 2025
England Times
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
© 2025 England Times. All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Go to mobile version