Family locked in row with neighbours who bought lane and 'refuse to let them out'
A family of four living on a farm are receiving threats from their neighbours who purchased the land which provides access to their home and told them they cannot pass through it. Matthew and Charis Watkinson bought their land in Newport, southwest Wales, in 2011 and, in 2016 they made a planning application to build a sustainable home on Beeview Farm for their family.
The father-of-two added that the worst part of the tension is that he believes his neighbours want to "get rid of our kids", who go to school in the area and love their life at the farm. The Watkinsons were left baffled by their neighbour's decision to buy the access lane and claim they are trying to stop them from using their farm as 'they only want sheep' in the area.
This means the Watkinson's off-the-grid lifestyle enables them to live with a low ecological footprint. Mr Watkinson said: "We feel like we're doing a pioneering project, which is fulfilling and rewarding. The only electrical items the family possess are a TV, mobile phones and a small fridge-freezer. After the beginning of their project, the family were given five years to prove they could reach their target and live sustainably if they wanted to keep their planning permission.
The helpless couple organised a GoFundMe page to raise funds to employ a solicitor and a barrister to defend their land. The Watkinsons are also asking anyone who regularly uses the historical roads to and from Carningli Common on the lanes around Castle Hill to support their bid in having the roads officially registered as public rights of way.
The family added: "Public rights are being lost all over the place and we'd like to apply to have all these ones officially recognised before they're removed by our neighbours. They've already locked one gate to stop people using an old path to the common land!"
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