FENCE DISPUTE FORCING WIDOW TO SELL HOUSE

A 79-YEAR-OLD woman says she is losing her house over a dispute with her neighbour over who owns the fence between their back gardens.

- JONATHON HILL

Widow Muriel Middle, from Pontyclun in Rhondda Cynon Taf, has been in a court battle with her neighbour Alexander Miles since 2023 regarding the boundary fence which separates the two back gardens in the quiet residential street of Coed Mieri.

After a long legal dispute over who owns the fence the case was partially upheld in claimant Mr Miles’ favour last summer, meaning Ms Middle, who was the defendant, owes him nearly £13,000. When taking into account extra costs associated with the case it has cost Ms Middle close to £20,000.

Ms Middle, a retired beauty technician and childminder who said she had been convinced she wouldn't lose the case, said she has so far been unable to afford to pay what she owes and is in the process of selling her house to her daughter so she can free up funds to pay the money. The delay in making that payment meant the case appeared back before Cardiff Civil Justice Centre last week which Sam Middle, Ms Middle’s daughter, attended in her place.

Sam, a firefighter for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This has absolutely crushed us. It has left my mother, who has worked all her life, needing to sell her home. She was too old to remortgage the house so she is in the process of selling the house to me to free up funds. None of this should ever have happened. It’s over a small part of a fence.”