Glacial Drift Vs Essex Local Council...

...which moves faster?

Fencing has been put up on a piece of green land between Florence Road and Oxford Road, Canvey. The green has been described as a ‘utopia’ by some residents, who allow their children to play on the open space safely within site (sic) of their homes. The area is popular with dog walkers as well.

Castle Point Council has confirmed there is no planning permission in place for the work, and insisted it will investigate the issue at the earliest possible date.

Which shouldn't take too long, should it? Or should it?

This being Essex, the culprit has got her retaliation in first:

An elderly woman told how she has been “bullied and victimised” by her neighbours after fencing off a green next to her house.

'Poor me, I'm a victim!'

The resident believes she is doing nothing illegal by fencing off the area, as it is unclaimed land.

She said: “I spoke to a solicitor who had been dealing with land disputes for over 30 years.

“He told me it was unclaimed land so if I fenced it off I could register the land with the land registry, and in 12 years I would become the owner if no-one came forward.”

I guess you forgot to tell him you weren't a member of a certain protected class of Caravan Utilising Nomadic Travellers, then?

...now Carol feels like she is being bullied by neighbours who haven’t attempted to discuss the issue, but preferred to trade insults and damage her property.

I don't recall you 'discussed the issue' with anyone yourself, before you started fencing off the land, did you?

...Castle Point Council has disputed that the resident was legally free to fence off a section of the open space. A spokesman from Castle Point Council said: “The land is public open space and has been maintained by the council for many years.

“The resident has no right to fence the land.”

Perhaps she's counting on you taking as long as you usually do before acting?