Neighbour dispute over grade II listed building repairs

So she was more than a little surprised when she returned to find it filled with scaffolding, scaling almost the height of her cottage, crowding out the greenery, blocking views from the building and overlooking her bedroom window.

The structure had been put up by workers employed by her neighbour, retired doctor Andrew Jones, to allow repairs to be carried out to the roof of his own Grade II listed home.

The roof can only be safely accessed by scaffolding, which is mostly in Dr Jones' garden but also has some struts placed on Mrs Hayes-Newington's side of the wall separating their homes.

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Gill Hayes-Newington pictured in front of her neighbour's scaffold in her garden (Image: Bruno Brown)

Dr Jones says that he actually owns a thin strip of land on her side, on which the scaffolding rests, and that he spoke to his neighbour to warn her in advance about the work.

The scaffolding blocking the view from Gill's bedroom window (Image: Submitted)But Mrs Hayes-Newington, a retired social worker, insists she knew nothing about it until she returned to find home the structure in place and the pair are now embroiled in a furious stand-off.

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She has contacted a solicitor and is threatening legal action unless the scaffolding is removed.

She said: "How would you react if you came home to find your neighbour's scaffolding in your back garden?

"The fact of the matter is it is discourteous. He has violated and invaded my privacy - the scaffold blocks my bedroom window and they can peer right in. My neighbour can't just play around with me like this.

"It is egotistical for them to assume this is okay and to assume that I didn't have plans, such as a garden party with my friends."

Dr Andrew Jones pictured in his garden where essential works to the roof on his grade II listed building are underway (Image: Bruno Brown)

Dr Andrew Jones, who has been Ms Hayes-Newington's neighbour on Rectory Lane in Halesworth, for more than a decade, is adamant he warned her about the work, which he says is vital.

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"My partner and I of course conferred with Gill about the essential maintenance to my roof," he said.

"Gill knew the work to my roof was essential.

"It is a little complicated because my home extends to her side of the wall so technically the scaffold, though her side of the wall, is in line with my house.

"I am very sorry that Gill is distressed by the work to my roof and the scaffold in her garden, but as she knows, the work is essential in order to maintain the grade II listed property.

"Furthermore she even knows the builders who are doing the work as they have done jobs to her home too.

"If she is taking legal action, I don't think it will go far."A street view of the properties on Rectory Lane in Halesworth (Image: Bruno Brown)A view of Dr Jones and his neighbour Gill Hayes-Newington's garden which shows how they overlap (Image: Bruno Brown)