Inside the war on millionaire's row over an alley barricade

by · Mail Online

Woodland Drive in Hove is the picture of leafy, upmarket suburbia with grand detached homes surrounded by well-kept gardens.

Houses go for more than a £1m on the East Sussex street and locals are proud to live in such a 'desirable' enclave. 

However, a war is raging on this millionaire's row and peace shows no sign of being declared any time soon.

So far two people have been arrested amidst the fury of neighbour protests after a man blocked off a public footpath with a 10ft barricade.

The local, which MailOnline is not naming, claims the land belongs to him - much to the disgust of other residents who allege they are the victims of intimidation and threatening behaviour.

Brighton and Hove City Council are so fed up with furore they are now vowing to set up CCTV cameras to keep the peace.   

In the latest incident on a 30-year-old man was arrested by police on last week on suspicion of assault.

Pictured: Locals argue with Brighton and Hove City Council workers at the scene of the barricade in Hove, East Sussex
Pictured: Signs are removed from the alleyway as council workers gain access to inspect the work that needs to be done
Pictured: A 10ft wire fence (pictured) was erected so the owners of the property could clear the path and carry out repairs
Pictured: Signs put up by the man claiming to own the disputed footpath, which were later taken down by council workers

The bitter row began last October when a wall blew down in a storm.

Rubble and storm-damaged fencing fell into the well-used public footpath that runs beside two exclusive £1.2m homes.

The owner of the house was set to carry out the work but then vacated the property and bricks and fencing were left lying dangerously in the footpath.

While occupants in the neighbouring house erected an 10ft wire fence blocking off the public right of way.

The family then claimed the passageway between the two properties was not a public right of way at all and was actually owned by them.

They have written to the council asserting their right to the land claiming they had previously granted 'permissive access' to the footpath but were now withdrawing it.

A war of words erupted between neighbours who claim they have used the passageway for decades to walk their dogs in nearby woods and visit the nearby parade of shops.

There were scenes of fury last week when council workers turned up on the street to carry out an assessment of the footpath.

Voices were raised as workers were confronted by the family at the centre of the controversy.

Worried about the escalating tempers, police were called for the third time in a fortnight with two officers attending to keep the peace.

The two-hour confrontation ended without incident but on Friday a 30-year-old man was arrested by police on Friday on suspicion of assault after a further incident.

Pictured: Tempers flared at a recent meetings with residents and local councillors when the owner of the wall clashed angrily with neighbours
The ruckus began when a wall blew down in a storm last October blocking a well-used public footpath that runs between two exclusive £1.2m homes (pictured)
Pictured: Council officials, surveyors and highways inspect the collapsed wall along the path
Pictured: Signs put up by a neighbour claiming the alleyway is private property - a point other locals claim is not true

He was questioned by police before being released with no further action to be taken.

Now Brighton & Hove Council says it will erect CCTV cameras along the pathway in a bid to keep it open.

Councillor Trevor Muten, said: 'CCTV cameras will be put up to monitor the path and any signs incorrectly suggesting the footpath is private property will be removed.

'We understand the frustration of the local community and have made this a priority. There are bridges we still need to cross, but we have a firm plan and are acting decisively on this.

'We said we would try to get this footpath open and being enjoyed again as quickly as we can and that is very much still our goal.'

One resident, who would not be named, said: 'This has been rumbling on for months and months and neither the police or the council have done anything to ensure that a public right of way stays open.

Pictured: The public alleyway between detached homes on upmarket Woodland Drive in Hove, East Sussex
Pictured: Bricks and debris is scattered along the alleyway as council and highways workers inspect the damage
Pictured: Council and highways workers gather at the footpath before the barrier is ripped down

'One family should not be permitted to decide who can and can't use a public footpath. Someone needs to enforce the law but both the council and the police have been very slow to act on this.'

Another homeowner said: 'It's an absolutely disgraceful situation. There are elderly and disabled people who regularly use the pathway to get to the shops to buy food and other supplies.

'They have been prevented from doing do by the actions of one family and that's wrong and needs to be remedied.'

But Nader Shahin, owner of the property, said: 'The council know about our legal claim to this land. We have always granted permissive access to it but it's not safe now.'

Mr Shahin, a gas engineer, said: 'I have lived here for the past 22 years and brought up my family here. I feel we are being unfairly vilified. The council has to realise that we have a legal claim on the land.'