The Fence Saga Continues.....

[tiggerblue10]

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Home-and-Garden/Question1805411.html

I got this emai today from the C of L

"I write regarding the contractors that completed the fencing at the rear of your property this week. We were contacted by residents in Old Fox Close asking us to investigate a white van that was accessing the strip of land to the rear of these properties.

This strip of land is owned by the City of London as a public open space and is part of Coulsdon Common; therefore driving on it is in breach of our byelaws. It is your responsibility as the person who appoints the contractor to make sure they are compliant with our regulations and also to seek our approval, via a licence, for any such work that impacts on our land.

We visited the site on Tuesday afternoon (2nd August) and all rubble and associated rubbish has been removed with the area left clean and tidy, so we would not need to issue a licence as the works have now finished.

If you have any further work done in the future that needs vehicle access to the rear of the property, please contact us before any work begins."

[tiggerblue10]

To which I responded....

"Firstly, I appreciate my neighbours concerns about the van which is fine. Secondly, I didn't realise that I had to obtain a licence for the vehicle to be used. There are no 'no entry' signs.

The last point I would like to make which is the most important point is that my garden wall which collapsed during the storm in February 2022 was mainly caused by the tree on the strip of land owned by City of London. Attached is photographic evidence of the tree with indents and uprooting of my brick wall which you would have witnessed when removing the tree a few weeks ago. The third image is the day after the storm in February. As you can see I had no choice but to fork out over £2.5k in order for a new fence to be built so in actual fact I should be seeking compensation from the City of London for the damage caused to my property. The final attachment is the invoice for the work carried out.

I therefore wish to submit a formal complaint against the City of London for this damage and subsequent action. I would also ask that you respond to the neighbours who complained and explain to them the reason why the white van was there in the first place.

I can also assure you that there will be no reason for any further work that requires access to the pathway. I wouldn't have required access in the first place had my wall not collapsed."

[TheChair]

Bravo. You handled that nicely.

[jno]

Firstly, I appreciate my neighbours concerns about the van which is fine but perhaps they could have raised them with me directly.

[ladybirder]

LOL Tigs. Please keep us informed of any further contact by whatever source between yourself, the CofL and/or your nosey neighbour. This is hilarious and I need to know the outcome. xx

[gulliver1]

Tiger @ 19,50 I am proud of you, well done.

[schippiegalette]

£2.5K for a garden fence? Yeezus............

[Hopkirk]

Well done Tiggs.

If it was me I wouldn't have responded, and if I needed another tradesman to bring his van in I would have blatantly assisted him in.

[tiggerblue10]

So how much would you pay for fence panels, concrete posts and blocks, other materials, and labour etc, schippie?

[Canary42]

Nice reply - should cause a few brown underpants at C/L HQ hopefully.

Good luck with your claim which sounds quite legitimate to me.

[Captain2]

'£2.5K for a garden fence? Yeezus............'

Can't see where Tiggs has said how long the fence is? How long is a piece of string?

[tiggerblue10]

Thanks all :o)

I've never claimed compo in my whole and I doubt very much I'll get anything from them tbh. I just want them to deal with my complaint.

[anneasquith]

You are a smart wee lassie. :-)

[tiggerblue10]

Here is my new fence.

https://ibb.co/XVp3Fsm

[jno]

very nice. And you can slot the panels in and out?

[tiggerblue10]

Yep, so any weather related damage along the line can easily be fixed as the concrete posts shouldn't fall.

[Hopkirk]

A cracking job

[anneasquith]

Nice !

[tiggerblue10]

The builder also had to knock down the remaining parts of the wall and take all the rubble to the tip. That was factored into cost too.

[THECORBYLOON]

Is there anything your side preventing someone lifting a panel to gain access?

[Zacs-Master]

I wouldn’t have responded. The case is closed, no need to rekindle the embers of a dead fire.