Luxury estate at war – over resident’s 24 wandering pigs
A LUXURY country estate that was once home to 19th century Tory Prime Minister Arthur Balfour has been at the centre of a bitter neighbourhood dispute centred on a herd of pigs.
Whittingehame House, near Haddington, East Lothian, now comprises seven apartments, each worth around £1.5million.
A row was sparked by the behaviour of resident Kevin Martin’s rare-breed Tamworth pigs, which were seen ‘rooting’ in lawns and allegedly charged at people.
Residents made repeated complaints to East Lothian Council about Mr Martin, 42, and his livestock, while police have been called to the estate on several occasions.
Now the council is pursuing a three-year anti- social behaviour order against Mr Martin, whose 24 pi gs have been confiscated.
Yesterday the father-of-four appeared at Haddington Sheriff Court to argue his case against the continuation of an interim Asbo, imposed pending a full hearing this summer. Mr Martin has accused his neighbours of a ‘vendetta’ against his family, and described it as a ‘class matter’.
In a blow to the aggrieved neighbours, Sheriff Peter Braid sided with Mr Martin and refused to grant the interim order after hearing his impassioned plea. But the Sheriff warned Mr Martin: ‘That doesn’t mean a permanent order will not be granted. You do need to watch your behaviour. If you were to do anything that was stated in the order, that could still be a criminal offence.’ The case was adjourned until August. Mr Martin, his wife and young children moved in around a year ago. He kept his pigs in an adjacent paddock, but trouble flared when the animals began breaking out of their enclosure.
Council officials who visited the estate in February saw ten pigs ‘roaming about’. They were confiscated later that month.
An interim civil Asbo imposed on Mr Martin had required him to stop his livestock escaping, but the council dropped the matter at yesterday’s hearing because the pigs have been removed.