General Discussion
A very sad story
This is what can happen when senior citizens of a community are put under stress/pressure.
THE deadline has passed for residents to respond in a dispute over their Brixham gardens.
A number of residents of Wishings Road have been told by solicitors acting for a property firm linked to TV 'Dragon' Deborah Meaden that their gardens encroach on land it owns.
They had until Friday to respond and confirm they would 'reinstate the boundaries'.
Meanwhile one of the residents embroiled in the boundary row, pensioner Bill Sneade, 86, has died of a heart attack.
His family fear that stress may have been a factor in his death last Monday.
Mr Sneade's son Michael said: "He was in tears when I spoke to him on the Saturday before he died. I told him not to worry, that we'd sort it out but he was beside himself.
"Dad moved into this home the day it was completed in 1960. He paid £1,500 for it and it was all he had to his name.
"This house and garden were his world.
"He fought for his country and I told him we'd fight for him now."
The Second World War veteran, who was nearly blind, lived at the property for 49 years and adored his garden. He signed up for the Royal Navy as soon as he turned 18 in 1940 and was decorated for his service on the dreaded Russian convoys where thousands lost their lives to enemy action and the perishing cold.
His funeral will take place on Thursday.
Coroner's officer Ric Parsons said yesterday there would be no inquest as Mr Sneade died of natural causes.
His son Michael, a taxi driver from Wellswood, Torquay, said his father was 'heartbroken' when his granddaughter Tracey read the solicitors' letter to him.
Michael explained: "He was heartbroken. The letter was addressed to him and his wife, Bet, my mother. She's been dead seven years and that upset him.
"He couldn't stand stress and worry, it used to bug him — if there was a family upset he just couldn't cope with it."
Michael said his father lived by rules and regulations throughout his life, and that when he wanted to build a retaining wall at the end of his garden he confirmed the boundary with the council.
Mr Sneade's next door neighbours Pamela and Paul Hemmings, who have lived in Wishings Road for 40 years, found their elderly neighbour dead in his home.
The couple, who have also been sent a letter, insist they have not altered their boundary.
Mrs Hemmings, 62, said: "We would go in to see Bill every morning and bring him his paper.
"I know he was very worried about it."
The couple say an anonymous lawyer from another country has approached them and offered his services 'free of charge,' after reading about their plight. They say the lawyer is representing seven residents.
The lawyers acting on behalf of Mudstone LLP, of which the multi-millionaire entrepreneur Ms Meaden is a member and which owns Wishings Field, say they have heard from a number of residents but would not say how many had been in contact with them before the deadline.
A spokesman for Stephens Scown solicitors, which acts on behalf of Mudstone LLP, said: "A number of residents have already been in contact and we are arranging to meet with them to agree the boundaries and the timing for their reinstatement."
Ms Meaden was unavailable for comment yesterday.
A planning application by developers Millwood Homes to build 48 new homes on Wishings Field has been strongly opposed but was approved by the council.
Last year, opponents submitted a legal application to turn the site into a protected village green. The inspector of the resulting public inquiry is due to make his recommendation by September, when it will again be debated by Torbay Council, which has the final say on the matter.
Mr Sneade's funeral is being held at Torquay Crematorium on Thursday at 10.30am.
He leaves his children Carol and Michael, grandchildren Tracey, Neil and Ian, and great-grandchildren Samuel, Chloe, Nathan, Kai and Alicia.
very sad, and another example of greed taking precedent over peoples feelings and rights.did the council get it wrong in thefirst place, if sothey should pay compensation to the family and the other residents. another example of incompedence by local authorities
It's also very sad that some people want to take advantage of other people's grief by trying to score political points out of it...
He's not even in the frigging ground yet! Show a bit of respect.
