Tycoon butcher sued by neighbour in house row

Civil action filed in long-running dispute over property damage claim

One of the country’s best-known butchers is being sued for more than £13,000 by his next door neighbour in a long-running beef over damage he is accused of causing to her home.

Haggis millionaire Simon Howie – who supplies meat to Britain’s leading supermarkets – allegedly threatened Lynn Barnard and forced her out of her house.

During the dispute with Howie and his brother Norman, Mrs Barnard alleges she was sprayed with weedkiller and subjected to a tirade of foul-mouthed abuse.

She claims in a civil action at Perth Sheriff Court that the butcher and his brother had caused her fear and alarm to the point where she reported them to the police.

The action notes: “She is the owner of an end terrace house, adjoined on one side by Alcove Cottage, owned by Simon Howie. In May 2009, Simon Howie began substantive works to extend the property.

“The work consisted of demolition of outer walls, excavation of large areas of ground and substantial work to the stonework. It was ongoing until 2012.

“She did not reside at her home for most of 2011 due to a serious escape of water. This prevented her enjoyment of the property during that period.

“In October 2015 she instructed tradesmen to investigate issues with her roof. She noticed dampening and an unpleasant odour in her living room. There were water stain marks.”

She said work done by Mr Howie’s contractors to create a dormer window had resulted in water discharging directly on to her roof and causing damage.

“She has suffered water ingress to her property. The property has suffered damage to internal paintwork and plasterwork. Cracks have appeared.

“She is concerned that the work by Mr Howie has caused structural damage to her property. She has suffered issues with drainage.

“The pipes and drains were damaged and require to be replaced. Soapy water bubbles up from the gravel on ground outside her kitchen window.”

Mrs Barnard said the businessman should have been well aware of the problems because she had complained to the police, the council’s planning department and Asbo team and the Heath and Safety Executive.

She claimed that her plants and bulbs were damaged and sprayed with weedkiller and a Lawson’s cypress tree had to be chopped down when its roots were severed.

Her action states: “The pursuer suffered verbal abuse and threats by the defenders, particularly Mr Howie and his brother. They intimated they would ‘get rid of her’ or words to that effect.

“The pursuer has suffered considerable stress and inconvenience at the hands of the defenders. It amounted to a common law nuisance.”

Mrs Barnard, of Dungavel, Auchterarder Road, Dunning, is suing Simon Howie, trading as Rossco Properties, for £10,555.05 for “preventing her enjoying her property”.

She is also seeking £2,224 from St Andrews Metals Ltd, which is operated by Norman Howie, in relation to the impact of work he carried out on the two neighbouring plots he purchased.

The third head of claim is for a further £2,500 against both defenders.

The defenders are fighting the action and deny causing any damage to Mrs Barnard’s property or to her garden at any stage of the work.

Both said they accepted they had a duty of care in carrying out building work but stated that they had fully complied with that duty. The case will be heard in court next year.

Mr Howie said: “We are having a terrible time. It’s a completely spurious and made-up case. It’s a neighbour from hell situation. We will not capitulate and give her money.”

Mrs Barnard could not be contacted for comment, but a friend of the family said they were aware of the case.

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The pursuer suffered verbal abuse and threats by the defenders. CIVIL ACTION STATEMENT

Simon Howie, above, and his brother Norman are at the centre of a row with neighbour Lynn Barnard.