A dementia care home based in Tilsworth, near Luton, has faced legal action after its neighbour reported the home’s owner for cutting a hedge without permission.
Steve Barker informed the local authorities that Mukesh Patel, the businessman who owns Orchard Lodge care home, accessed his land in order to cut back a leylandii tree hedge without his consent.
The hedge runs beside the driveway that leads to Mr Barker’s property and the wall of the care home.
In response to the complaint, Mr Patel said: “There are old, vulnerable people with dementia staying here.
“The tree completely blocks out their views and air couldn’t come in.
“We couldn’t go on his side of the driveway, so my handyman trimmed it from inside our window.”
Mr Barker has made a similar complaint regarding Mr Patel’s actions in the past, when he reported the businessman to the police for cutting down trees that he had planted between the two properties.
After reporting the businessman, Mr Barker – a former Metropolitan police officer – declined the chance to meet with officers to discuss his complaint, and no legal action was taken.
Regarding the latest hedge cutting dispute, he said: “This has not been done with our permission.
“The trees have not been professionally cut and are butchered.
“He is causing us harassment by doing this.
“I am hoping that this time Mr Patel will be prosecuted over this.”
Edwin Vasey, a 73-year-old resident at Orchard Lodge said the hedge was cut from the window of his room after he asked Mr Patel to do something about the lack of light and air.
Mr Barker has since taken legal action, but the dispute between himself and Mr Patel has not yet been resolved.