Latest news with #neighbourdispute


The Sun
14 hours ago
- The Sun
Can a neighbour keep my kid's football if it lands in their garden during summer hols?
SUMMER holidays often see Brits flocking to their gardens to soak up the sunshine. It's a perfect chance to enjoy outdoor games like football, but what should you do if your child's ball lands in your neighbour's garden? 3 3 If your ball lands in your neighbour's garden, you are not allowed to simply hop over the fence and retrieve it. First, you need to ask your neighbour to return the ball to your child. However, should they refuse, there is a process you can follow. According to Barrett Homes and West Yorkshire Police, your neighbour is legally required to return the ball back to you - if it landed on their property. If they fail to do so, this could be regarded as theft. At this point, Brits are advised to contact the Citizens Advice Bureau to consider their next steps. Simply retrieving the ball yourself could be considered trespassing, which could land you in big trouble. The sentence for trespassing can be a huge fine of £2,500 or even four months in prison. Any damage to your neighbour's property could make you liable to legal consequences. If you have a problem with your neighbour repeatedly kicking balls into your garden, consider using a mesh netting to block them. Though, talking to them about the problem is a much easier first step. The news comes after supermarkets launched their huge ranges of garden toys for the summer. Lidl's range includes a bouncy castle with a basketball hoop for just £49.99. The product is on sale in the brand's famous middle aisle, which sells special products for a limited amount of time. The supermarket is also selling a £6.99 decoration which can give your garden an ethereal glow. Also located in the middle aisle, Lidl is selling the Livarno Home Solar Light Decoration which comes in a variety of styles. The designs include butterflies, birds and dragon flies hanging from the ornament. The lights, intended to brighten up gardens, are described by Lidl as "atmospheric decoration with soft colour-changing light". 3

News.com.au
3 days ago
- News.com.au
Huge update on 5 year neighbour dispute over untrimmed hedge
A UK couple has won a bitter neighbour dispute over an untrimmed hedge after five years of furious feuding. Keith Smith, 71, and his wife Julie, 68, were locked in a feud with their neighbours in Prestonfield, Edinburgh, over the height of a hedge, The Sun reports. The Smiths claimed the untrimmed cypress trees, belonging to David Hunter and Niena Hunter Mistry, made their lives a misery. The row of trees sparked a five-year battle between the two couples. The neighbour war grew so bitter that it involved the Edinburgh City Council, the Scottish Government and even the police. The Smiths claim the trees cast a shadow across their garden, forcing the pensioners to live out their retirement in darkness. Demanding the trees be chopped down, the Smiths turned to the local authority but were left frustrated when they were refused. The couple paid a massive £350 ($A712) fee for a High Hedge Notice application which was denied after a visit from a city council officer. Appealing the decision, the Smiths won and managed to successfully have the trees trimmed back to 8.5ft in 2023. After the bush was trimmed the Smiths claim that gaps where the tree once stood were suddenly replaced by gardening tools, including ladders, pipes and concrete. The pair went on to claim the trim was inadequate and called for the council to come back, which they did and agreed that the remaining trees should be further cut back. Mr Hunter left a single tree standing untrimmed however which he claimed was not part of the 'boundary hedge' and therefore not subject to the High Hedge Notice. The Smiths then insisted the remaining tree be cut back too with the dispute turning ugly again. The couple, who have lived in their home for 44 years, continued their brutal battle to have the foliage lopped back. Things got so bad that in June of last year the police were called to the quiet suburb where they issued 'two men' with 'recorded police warnings'. Mr Smith previously claimed to Edinburgh Live his neighbours' behaviour had been 'atrocious' and branded the couple's actions 'absolutely appalling'. The hedge owners refused to chop down their bush and claimed they felt harassed and intimidated by the Smiths. The Smiths previously said: 'We, the Smiths, have suffered hugely financially, emotionally and physically by this process and sincerely hope, this will now lead to resolution.' An appeal launched by Mr Hunter in a bid to save his tree was rejected and the last remaining part of the hedge will now have to be cut back to 8.5ft. Mr Hunter insisted the remaining tree was not part of the hedge and begged that it be allowed to stand. He said in a document seen by the Mail Online: 'The individual tree identified in the varied notice cannot reasonably be said to be part of the boundary hedge. 'It appears as a separate individual tree and has never been trimmed. 'We would be very grateful if you would take all our points and concerns into account and request that you quash the revised high hedge notice.' Despite his pleas Mr Hunter was ordered to cut back the remaining piece of his hedge to 8.5ft in line with the previous High Hedge Notice. The Smiths were delighted after a government official stated the tree did in fact cast a shadow over a 'significant' portion of their garden. The official also stated the previous High Hedge Notice applied to the whole hedge, including the remaining tree. Despite the best efforts of Mr Hunter the government official ruled the hedge damaged the Smith's enjoyment of their home. The government ruled the remaining part of the hedge is now subject to the High Hedge Notice and should be trimmed to 8.5ft.


CBC
5 days ago
- CBC
Neighbours shocked after three deaths in Maple Ridge, B.C.
Several neighbours CBC News spoke to say they believe an years-long dispute between neighbours over issues like street parking, backyard fires and a dog exploded into a violent attack in Maple Ridge, B.C. Homicide investigators continue to look into the death of a couple, with the suspect found dead in a home across the street on Wednesday night.


CTV News
5 days ago
- CTV News
‘The nicest people': Friends identify Maple Ridge, B.C., couple killed in apparent neighbour dispute
Friends have identified Bruce Richards and Roxanne Davidson as the couple killed in an apparent neighbour dispute in Maple Ridge, B.C., on July 23, 2025. Friends have identified the married couple killed in an apparent murder-suicide in Maple Ridge, B.C., as Bruce Richards and Roxanne Davidson. The two, both in their early 60s, were found dead alongside their dog inside their home Wednesday night following what police described as a 'neighbourhood dispute.' Investigators believe the man who killed them — a neighbour who lived just a few houses away — died by suicide hours later. 'This was so quick, so unexpected and senseless,' said Darryl Lucas, a close friend of the couple's who spoke to CTV News. Lucas said he met Richards in the 1980s when the two played rugby together at Simon Fraser University, and they remained good friends. He said Richards had worked for decades as a teacher in the Coquitlam School District, while Davidson was a financial advisor at TD Bank. Both had recently retired. 'They were living a retirement life we would all love to live and hope to get to,' he said. The couple left behind two sons and several grandchildren. Ridge Meadows RCMP said officers were first called to the area near 239 Street and 118 Avenue around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday for reports of a dispute among neighbours. No arrests were made. Four hours later, Mounties were called back for reports of a vehicle fire, a break-and-enter and gunshots. Officers found Richards, Davidson and their dog dead inside their home. The suspect reportedly returned to his residence nearby, armed with a weapon. Police said when the Lower Mainland's Emergency Response Team entered that home later in the evening, the man was found dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has not released any details about the suspect. Neighbours told CTV News there had been previous confrontations between the two households, including disputes over parking, but nothing that would have indicated violence of this scale. 'They were the nicest people,' Lucas said of the couple. 'Not a mean bone in their bodies.' 'This is a classic example of life not being fair, taking these two wonderful people way too early.' The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has also launched a parallel investigation to determine whether any police action or inaction contributed to the deaths. The IIO investigates all incidents involving police where serious harm or death occurs, regardless of alleged misconduct. Both IHIT and the IIO remained at the scene Friday.


The Sun
6 days ago
- The Sun
Couple WIN bitter battle over neighbours' ‘untrimmed' hedge – after 5-year war ‘descended into chaos'
A COUPLE has won a bitter neighbour dispute over an untrimmed hedge after five years of furious feuding. Keith Smith, 71, and his wife Julie, 68, claimed their neighbours untrimmed cypress trees made their lives a misery. 2 The row of trees, belonging to David Hunter and Niena Hunter Mistry, sparked a five-year battle between the two couples in the quiet suburb of Prestonfield, Edinburgh. The neighbour war grew so bitter that it involved the Edinburgh City Council, the Scottish Government and even the police. The Smiths claim the trees cast a shadow across their garden, forcing the pensioners to live out their retirement in darkness. Demanding that the trees be chopped down, the Smiths turned to the local authority but were left frustrated when they were refused. The couple paid a massive £350 fee for a High Hedge Notice application which was denied after a visit from a city council officer. Appealing the decision, the Smiths won and managed to successfully have the trees trimmed back to 8.5ft in 2023. After the bush was trimmed the Smiths claim that gaps where tree once stood were suddenly replaced by gardening tools, including ladders, pipes and concrete. The pair went on to claim that the trim was inadequate and called for the council to come back, which they did and agreed that the remaining trees should be further cut back. Mr Hunter left a single tree standing untrimmed however which he claimed was not part of the "boundary hedge" and therefore not subject to the High Hedge Notice. The Smiths then insisted the remaining tree be cut back too with the dispute turning ugly again. My neighbours said they'd sue me if I touched the top of our overgrown joint hedge - so I got creative and they can't say a word The couple, who have lived in their home for 44 years, continued their brutal battle to have the foliage lopped back. Things got so bad that in June of last year the police were called to the quiet suburb where they issued "two men" with "recorded police warnings." Mr Smith previously claimed to Edinburgh Live that his neighbours behaviour had been "atrocious" and branded the couple's actions "absolutely appalling." The hedge owners refuse to chop down their bush flat out and claim they feel harassed and intimidated by the Smiths. The Smiths previously said: "We, the Smiths, have suffered hugely financially, emotionally and physically by this process and sincerely hope, this will now lead to resolution." An appeal launched by Mr Hunter in a bit to save his tree was rejected and the last remaining part of the hedge will now have to be cut back to 8.5ft. 2 Mr Hunter insisted that the remaining tree was not part of the hedge and begged that it be allowed to stand. He said in a document seen by the Mail Online: "The individual tree identified in the varied notice cannot reasonably be said to be part of the boundary hedge. "It appears as a separate individual tree and has never been trimmed. "We would be very grateful if you would take all our points and concerns into account and request that you quash the revised high hedge notice." Despite his pleas Mr Hunter was ordered to cut back the remaining piece of his hedge to 8.5ft in line with the previous High Hedge Notice. The Smiths were delighted after a Government official stated that the tree did in fact cast a shadow over a "significant" portion of their garden. The official also stated that the previous High Hedge Notice applied to the whole hedge, including the remaining tree. Despite the best efforts of Mr Hunter the government official ruled that the hedge damaged the Smith's enjoyment of their home. The government ruled that the remaining part of the hedge is now subject to the High Hedge Notice and should be trimmed to 8.5ft.