Neighbours’ snooping balcony is ruining my retirement
QMy neighbours have ruined my life. Since I retired (early, due to poor health), my one love, my pride and joy, is my garden. Now they have built a top floor balcony which overlooks it, and I have no privacy at all. They sit up there drinking and watching me. Years ago, I’m told, there was a balcony there so I may not even be able to complain to the council. I am in despair. Anne says: the gardening expert on my radio show and he said two words you should take to heart - leylandii, and bamboo! He told me he gets asked about such situations all the time, and in many cases, privacy can be reclaimed by planting mature and fast growing barrier plants.
You can buy them when they are already 15-20ft tall, which can be pretty expensive, but they could immediately restore your peace of mind. Next, get the moral support of your other neighbours. Even if they are not directly affected by this I had surgery to fix my short-sightedness in May. After weeks of trawling the internet to find the right place to get Lasik surgery, I booked in with Focus Clinic on Harley Street.
The procedure involved my doctor, David Allamby, creating a flap in the cornea and using a laser to fix the problems with my eye.
I’m so happy with the results and I can see so much better now. balcony, their support will help if you do want to complain to the council.
Go along to the next meeting of your parish/town council. Turn up a few minutes early and ask to raise something under “any other matters” and simply describe what’s happened to you, and ask for their advice (even on leylandii and bamboo planting).
Usually there’s someone on the council who has experience of these things and will know what you should do next. They could take things up with the planning authority for you.
Then call in at your local Citizen’s Advice office – they deal with these sorts of problems all the time.
Now the difficult bit. Try talking to these neighbours and telling them how desperate you feel. You never know, you could even reach a compromise (help with screening, perhaps?)
Don’t be a prisoner inside your own house. Talk to your GP. Get out by joining a local gardening group, or other such activity so that you have somewhere to go occasionally, and people to meet. Keeping calm and positive is key to resolving what may be an entirely solvable problem.