Neighbours’ ‘fairytale village’ dispute from beyond the grave
A SQUABBLE over a coal cellar in a fairytale village has blown up into a court showdown despite the death of the woman who launched legal action.
Kathleen Molnar sued her neighbours Ranjan Ramparia and David Gal over access to the tiny, damp 10ft x 8ft basement between their £1.6million homes before dying aged 71 in November.
They all lived in Holly Village in Highgate,
North London – an enclave of 12 Gothic fantasy cottages around a green built for the RSPCA’s founder Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts.
Ms Molnar had been in her semi since 1985, claiming she used the cellar for storage until 2020, adding a combination lock to the door in 2010. Central London County Court heard that accountant Ms Ramparia, 52, and Mr Gal moved in next door in 2006.
Peter Petts, representing the couple, said the trio got along until 2020 when Ms Molnar’s gardeners, who used the cellar, accidentally smashed period tiling.
He said: “They asked the gardeners to stop using the cellar, which they did, until Kathleen Molnar told them to continue using it. The defendants changed the lock on the cellar door on 1 August 2020. On Kathleen Molnar threatening to involve the police, a year later the defendants moved her things from the cellar.”
Judge John Dight heard Benjamin Taylor, a friend of PR boss Ms Molnar and one of her beneficiaries, is continuing the court fight as estate executor.
Mr Taylor argues the bottom five steps leading to the basement, its door and part of the bunker belonged to her. But Ms Ramparia insisted: “We bought our property with the sole use of the cellar.”
Mr Gal, 53, said the couple did not believe the right to use the basement added value to their cottage: “I’d be surprised if anyone was prepared to pay extra for a damp three by 1.5metre cellar.”
The hearing continues.