Fence row pair lose appeal

4:51pm Friday 8th June 2007

A TOP judge has laid to rest a neighbours' row about two fences, which ran up over £100,000 in legal bills.

The dispute began in January 2002 when property developers converted two run-down barns at Norcross Farm, Hothersall Lane, Hothersall, Longridge, into three homes.

The only road access to them was across a field, once part of neighbouring Graham House Farm, now owned by Keith and Elizabeth Gornall.

Mr and Mrs Gornall, of Hillview Ward, Green Lane, Ribchester, refused access over their field but then accepted a payment of £25,000 from the developers to settle the dispute.

They then built two barriers along the edges of the right of way, "imposing severe restrictions on the use of the road" prompting residents to launch a legal action against them.

Last June, a judge awarded £9,000 damages to resid-ents and ordered Mr and Mrs Gornall to pay legal costs of more than £100,000.

Their challenge to Judge Ashton's ruling was yesterday dismissed at London's Appeal Court.