The Family Home Counts for Nothing

Examples of families that suffer under the name of Rights of Way continue to come forward.   These suggest the family home counts for nothing in pursuit of access to the countryside.     Threats of physical violence, theft, child abuse, damage caused to property, personal worry, all seem to be acceptable in applying Rights of Way.   

It is time for the family home to be classed as excepted land to Rights of Way, there can be no exceptions.  The family home must be secure for the family.  Here is a summary recently sent to Intrusive Footpaths detailing the appalling experiences of a family and illustrating the extent of the wrong doing:

•             Threats of physical violence
•             Threat of returning with a gun
•             Verbal abuse sneers and vitriol comments
•             Pictures taken of 15 year old daughter in a bikini in the garden
•             Children suffered verbal abuse from walkers who quote ‘your mum is a loser’
•             Golf balls thrown in swimming pool
•             Fences kicked in over 20 times
•             Loss of child minding business because cannot secure children in garden
•             Been off work for over year because of stress and worry of the path
•             Not had a family holiday together as a unit, because someone has to stay home to secure the house
•             Husband lives away during the week as he cannot stand the footpath and the verbal abuse from walkers
•             Cars vandalised, nails put under tyres, car aerial broken off
•             Rocks thrown at ponies all suffering facial damage
•             Eggs stolen, and thrown at barn
•             Horse lorry scratched down one side
•             Old boots and a camera lens thrown at geese
•             Chickens shredded and attacked by loose dogs
•             Goslings stolen
•             Horses let out
•             Caught a man in my feed room, who claimed he was lost
•             My son’s football goal net smashed to bits between 19.00 and 21.30
•             Men at night shining torches at the house
•             Pebbles thrown at bedroom window at 04:10 hours
•             Council Health & Safety officers saying risk to public from vehicle movements unacceptable but if path fenced would block any access to home

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