Latest news with #neighbourcomplaint
The Sun
11 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
I bought a trampoline for the local kids to enjoy but my spiteful neighbour made us rip it down – they lead a sad life
A GRANDMA claims she has to pull down her trampoline after a 'spiteful' neighbour complained to the council about kids bouncing on it. Lorraine Roberts bought a trampoline for children on her estate in Southampton, Hampshire, and erected it on council-owned common area in February. 2 2 The 67-year-old believed all her neighbours were happy with the 16-foot equipment until she received a call from Southampton City Council last month [May 19]. Grandma-of-ten Lorraine says staff told her an unknown neighbour had complained about the 'noise and mess' children make while playing on it 'all day, every day'. She was reportedly then ordered to take it down from the grassy area before it is forcibly removed on 'health and safety' grounds. Shocked Lorraine admits the children can be noisy while playing but says she lives just a 'couple feet away' and orders anyone off the trampoline by 8pm. She's since described the neighbour's complaint as 'gutless' and believes the residents should've been consulted before the decision was made to ban the equipment. The grandma said the local children are 'disappointed and upset' over the trampoline's removal and she remains hopeful the decision can be overturned. Southampton City Council say play equipment such as trampolines present a 'significant health and safety risk' so are banned on council-owned shared areas. Lorraine said: "Just over a year ago, one of my neighbours put a trampoline on a shared area of grass because a lot of kids play there but it was quite flimsy. "I've got grandchildren that play on the close so I said I'd buy a bigger, sturdier one. "Everybody loved it. Kids were on it all day, every day. It keeps them off their iPads and PlayStations." Although the Grandma admitted the kids are noisy on the trampoline, as far as she's concerned "they're going to be noisy either way." "I didn't know anyone had any issue with it. I thought the neighbours were happy with it. "We all think it's spineless how [the neighbour] didn't say anything to our face. They're gutless and we've got to live with them." Lorraine insists it's the residents' roles to take responsibility for the children, not the council. She says the kids will still cause noise and mess without the trampoline but now they don't have anything to play on. Lorraine said: "I was quite shocked when [the council] said they'd received a complaint from one of the neighbours. Why didn't they approach us? "They said it was a health and safety issue but I said you're not responsible, we are. We take responsibility for the children. "They said it's got to come down. I said no and she said if you don't take it down we will. "I was really disappointed for the children's sake. I just like the children having something to play with. "The complaint was about the noise and mess but you're still going to get that without the trampoline but now they won't have anywhere to play. "The council should've come round, had a meeting with the whole close and asked what we all thought instead of just saying 'take it down'. "There was no discussion. We want to see if we can get this overturned. The children are all upset by this." A spokesperson for Southampton City Council said: 'Shared areas of council-owned grass within our communities are spaces for everyone to enjoy safely. "While we understand the importance of outdoor play, play equipment such as trampolines present a significant health and safety risk, and cannot be safely monitored around the clock. "For this reason, we do not permit their use in these shared areas. "The residents are within walking distance of two parks which provide good access to play facilities. "We are aware that this type of play equipment can be expensive, which is why we sent letters to the community to give the owner the chance to collect the trampoline themselves.' Lorraine took to social media to voice her concerns with the neighbour's complaint and council's decision to remove the trampoline. Lorraine said: "I cannot believe that some spiteful person from our close has complained to the council that our children are making too much noise whilst playing on the trampoline." Another user said: "They lead a very sad life to complain about the children." A third added: "You're joking. Isn't it good they are laughing and playing or do they want them either stuck in bedrooms or playing with guns outside? What has this world come to?" Another said: "What a small minded person. It's lovely to hear children playing outside."
The Sun
19-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Woman locked in bitter neighbour war over pet PIG who lives in garden, eats Sunday roasts & loudly SNORES all day long
A COUPLE are locked in a bitter row over their "smelly" pet pig Jack who eats Sunday roasts and snores all day. Michelle and Carl Repper were shocked to receive a complaint from their neighbour over the noise and odour of their six-year-old Juliana pot-bellied pig. 6 6 6 The couple adopted Jack six years ago after their friends mistook him for a micro pig, and have raised the boar in their garden ever since. Michelle, 44, says everyone in the neighbourhood loves little Jack and was shocked when one neighbour allegedly shouted through the fence to say the pig was "disgusting". Another local said Jack is making their life in the area "unbearable". The mum-of-three also received a letter from South Holland District Council outlining an odour and nuisance complaint over their much-loved piggy. But Michelle claims Jack is the "cleanest animal" and sleeps quietly for up to six hours a day in the garden - and says all he does is "snore". Michelle, a teaching assistant, said the family would be "devastated" if they were forced to rehome Jack, insisting that they would "put up a fight" if the complaint escalated. The council confirmed they had visited the pig twice and observed no issues however said the owner had "taken steps to reduce the noise levels". Michelle, who lives in Spalding, Lincolnshire, said: "He is like our dog, he's our pet. "The neighbours have always known we've had Jack. "Everybody loves Jack. The neighbours bring their leftover food from Sunday dinner over for him. Dog-walkers all ask about him. He's so gentle." After going away for a few days last month, Michelle claims a neighbour began "shouting at her" through the fence, branding Jack "noisy and smelly". But Michelle insists that her pet porker is quiet and clean, snoozing in his pen for the majority of the day. Michelle said: "We left his wheelie bin in there and he does throw it around. When we got back, we apologised for it. "When we got back, all of a sudden we could hear this lady shouting through a hole in the fence saying he was disgusting and she can't believe there's a pig in the garden. "But we've had him for six years, not a couple weeks. She's always known we've had him. "That's the first time anyone has ever said anything in six years. No one's said anything about the noise or smell before. Pigs are the cleanest animals. "We've never had any issues with him. They said he's really noisy during the day but he actually sleeps for five to six hours during the day. He just sunbathes the whole day. "All he does is snore. He's so quiet. My husband said 'rather than shouting from the fence, come around and have a decent conversation with us' but she just carried on shouting, so I went indoors." Michelle, who says they have a licence to own and walk Jack, then received a letter from her local council over an alleged complaint concerning Jack's smell and noise levels. Neighbours then voiced their concerns to the town's newspaper, saying the pig "makes [their] life unbearable" and went on to describe their living situation as a "tragedy". Michelle said: "Tragedy? I don't really know what to say about that. He's been here for six years. "It's more gutting that it's come to this. I'm just baffled. "She could've just come round to us and said he's really smelly and making loads of noise rather than making a complaint. "There's got to be evidence of smell and my husband cleans that every other day. He always does it in the same spot. He's not defecating all around the garden. "If we had to rehome him, it would be like someone giving away their dog. "My husband and my girls would be devastated. He's just part of the furniture. We'd put up a fight [if they wanted to rehome him]. "I just wish they'd come and spoken to us. I've emailed the council to say you're welcome to come round and have a look at him. We've got nothing to hide." A South Holland District Council spokesperson said: "We are aware of this case and have been in contact with APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency), who have confirmed that all the appropriate licences are in place. "Our officers have visited the site on two occasions, during which no issues have been observed. "The owner has taken steps to reduce the noise levels, and advice has been provided on how to correctly monitor and record concerns, to allow us to continue to investigate as required." 6 6 6
