man drilled holes in in wall he shares with neighboring family because he claims it’s infringing on his garden as a couple of inches. The pensioner was fined £90. for in criminal damage, but he continues his protest, showing the messages outside his house criticism family – who let’s say the line has left them children “ashamed to go out”.
For several months, Ewan Taylor from Cardiff placed wooden posters on the façade. of his house in in busy Clare Road, Grangetown. 87-year -old messages include: “You and your construction cowboy are thieves [sic]»; “Other advice is taken down illegal [sic] building work”; “Will they sue me?”; and “Don’t like My signs, tell the council.” display shows in street amount of in next-Door family, who told WalesOnline: “This really needs to be stopped.”
Mr Taylor, retired mason. who lived in his house for about 50 years old, said his anger was caused in 2020 when family built extension in them back yardcleaning the garden wall they previously separated and replaced it with a new one – which, he claims, overlooks his own garden. “It’s a question of two inches but that’s mine property- he said. – Even if it were half inch, I would object.”
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Neighbors are a married couple with four children between the ages of eight and 20, to deny any abuse. The 42-year-old mother said: “I have no idea why he thinks so. in his property. It’s frustrating, especially for my children. They are ashamed to go out when people ask questions about signs.
family extension sent back their bathroom to create more canteen space. Their builders knocked down old garden wall – which Mr Taylor described as “ random rubble wall with rooster and hen finish” – as well as built concrete replacement.
(Image: Conor Gogarty)
(Image: Conor Gogarty)
“Since we’ve moved in 20 years later [Mr Taylor] didn’t talk to usMom said. We didn’t have any fights or anything like that. it first once there was some kind of confrontation.
“Cardiff Council says there are no need for planning app for extensions of six meters, and it was within six meters. Then after work was finished [Mr Taylor] drilled through.”
Mr Taylor admits he used a drill and hammer to make holes in in wall over Period of about five months. He also purified off strip of stucco from building extension. four circles in garden wall show where family sealed up damage.
(Image: Conor Gogarty)
(Image: Conor Gogarty)
“He often did this in morning when we were outMom said. – One day when we in he started doing it and we asked why. He said: “This in my property.’ It was intimidating for my children.”
In response Mr Taylor said us: “I do not see how It was intimidating. Driving and drilling in progress on next Door for years. And that’s acceptable. If they want hang up new cabinets up they can hang new cabinets up. My wife always heard it and said, “They bought another one box of nails.’ She died a few years ago.”
The police fined Taylor £90. last September for criminal damage. fixed penalty the notice reads: “Damage caused to adjacent garden wall with cement breaking hammer of wall intentionally.”
Mama said “Police took get off your drill. That’s when he started with signs. We called the police two weeks ago and they said there was nothing they could do because in his private property. They said it like protest sign although he has our house number and he calls us the thieves. How can it not be offensive?”
Mr. Taylor invited WalesOnline to his property and gave a demo where he measured the width of internal section of his house next to the garden wall then walked out to his yard and measured distance between the garden wall and a line running parallel edge of the same interior. He said second distance was about two inches shorter, which he claims show encroachment on his property.
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(Image: Conor Gogarty)
The pensioner felt left with “no choice” but to drill holes after advice refused intervene. One council official wrote to Mr. Taylor that the extension was not need building permits and that boundary disputes are not planning matters. It will be a civil matter, he told Mr. Taylor.
Answer not satisfied former mason who showed photocopies of Wales online of eight letters he wrote demanding action by the council. Mostly written in black felt-tip pen and in in large capital letters, the messages say: “The issue it’s illegle [sic] building work”. One says: “Two years [council officer’s name]two years of ignored by you. Why?”
Mr Taylor said he started his protest because he cannot afford a civil suit. “I protest that they encroached on my property expand my property depreciation of mine property. I am a victim and I am punished?
When asked if he tried to speak with to his neighbors about his fears, he said: “Oh no. How do you talk to someone and tell them that what they have done is illegal?”
(Image: Conor Gogarty)
(Image: Conor Gogarty)
When we informed Mr. Taylor that family felt disturbed by the posters, he said, “My signs are truth. Pair of days ago law [police] were here. They told me that the signs were not very pleasant and that other people object to them. But I wasn’t asked to take them down because they don’t have power. it on my property.”
family stated that the police told them that they could start a civil suit over in display but they decided against it to avoid legal costs. A spokesman for the council said it was a civil matter between the two sides, adding: “We could only intervene if the signs were on highway, creating an obstacle, or were placed up without permission so in effect flyposting, which is an offense under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.”
Contacted the South Wales Police for comment. you can read more of in latest Cardiff news here.
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