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Castle Point Council has success in encroachment case

 

Press Release - 29th October 2020

In The Southend County Court

Castle Point Borough Council have successfully taken action against two homeowners who illegally moved their fences on to Council owned land in order to enlarge the size of their gardens in Westwater, South Benfleet.

Mr Recorder Howlett, sitting at Southend County Court heard evidence in the case on 6 February 2020 and delivered a reserved judgement on 10 July 2020 finding that Mr and Mrs Judd and Ms Sophie Zygmunt had illegally moved their rear fences on to playing fields owned and controlled by the Council. The judge ordered that the illegal possession be given up to the Council.

This case was successfully bought against the defendants by the Council’s legal department. This action and the subsequent findings and order of the court demonstrates that the Council will take firm action against any person who tries to grab council owned land, particularly public open space for their own purposes.