Couple at war with ‘monstrous’ neighbours after they put up a six-foot fence they say blocks their front door
A couple have been locked in a seven-year-old long battle with their neighbours after they put up a six-foot-tall fence they say blocks their front door.
Gary and Kerry Hambling bought their 17th-century semi-detached Garden Cottage in Suffolk for £600,000 back in 2015.
But the couple, who live with their three children, say their dream home has turned to a nightmare after becoming embroiled in a spat with neighbours Garry and Jenny Wakerly.
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In 2016, the Wakerlys, who own the large estate next door, erected a six-foot (1.8m) fence along their private drive which lines the Hamblings' house.
The Hamblings say this fence has cut off access to their front door from the drive, which they say they have legal access to.
They say the fence’s position means the only way for the family to access their field is by walking along the A1071 Hadleigh Road.
The couple also say the fence cuts off the views from the house to their field across the drive which was bought with the property and leaves the ground floor of their property in darkness.
After years of going back and forth, the Hamblings took the matter to the Norwich County Court, Norfolk, but they lost and ended up £100,000 out of pocket.
They have since appealed to the High Court against the decision and are awaiting judgment.
Gary said: "They're bullies. They are neighbours from hell. If we lose the case we'll stay. I don't like being bullied- they're not being reasonable at all.
"It's the worry and emotional stress that's taken its toll. Life is hard enough as it is. Kerry would probably cry talking about this.
"When the fence was first put up the kids (who are now 16, 18 and 20) were young and were having to walk along the 60mph road.
"That's not something we would have agreed to when buying the property.
"The house is unsellable with the current situation. If we lose, at least we've tried."
The dispute now centres around the wording of the right of way which was set out when the Garden Cottage property was sold to an earlier buyer in 2001.
The wording says the Wakerlys' drive can be used for ‘access to the field not to Garden Cottage’.
The Hamblings have argued this is inaccurate.
Seventy-six-year-old retired Wakerly, said: "Don't believe what Gary Hambling says.
"He's got a magic way of getting into people's minds to make them believe what he wants.
"I've been to court with him, arbitration with him twice, I know what he's like. That's all I'm prepared to say."
Claire Reid