Michael Garman, a 69-year-old retired plumber, finds himself at the center of a heated dispute over a patch of land outside his house in Lowestoft. What started as a simple disagreement has now escalated into a standoff, with workers erecting a fence around the grass verge on Sunday.
The issue began when Cignal Infrastructure Limited received permission from East Suffolk Council to install a 15m mast on the disputed land. However, Mr. Garman vehemently insists that the land is his and has been parking his motorhome on it to make his point.
“They turned up on Sunday morning when I was out walking the dog,” Mr. Garman said. “When I got home, I spoke to the security guard standing there and I said this is my land and I’m going to park my motorhome on it.”
Undeterred by the fence being put up around the land, Mr. Garman has vowed to stay put until he has had a chance to discuss the matter with his barrister. Determined to defend what he believes is rightfully his, he has sat inside his motorhome with the heating on, observing the ongoing developments.
The situation has caught the attention of local residents who have expressed support for Mr. Garman’s stance. While the dispute continues, it is clear that passions are running high on both sides.
In March, East Suffolk Council granted permission for the mast installation after sending letters to households in the area, including Mr. Garman’s. However, the retired plumber claims he never received any such correspondence.
As tensions escalate, it remains to be seen how this land dispute will be resolved. For now, Michael Garman stands firm, determined to protect what he believes is rightfully his.
Q: What is the dispute about?
A: The dispute is about a patch of land outside Michael Garman’s house in Lowestoft, where Cignal Infrastructure Limited received permission to install a mast, but Mr. Garman insists the land is his.
Q: Why did Mr. Garman start parking his motorhome on the land?
A: Mr. Garman parked his motorhome on the land to assert that it belongs to him and to make his point.
Q: What has Mr. Garman done since the fence was put up?
A: Mr. Garman has vowed to stay on the land and has sat inside his motorhome with the heating on to observe the ongoing developments.
Q: What support has Mr. Garman received from local residents?
A: Local residents have expressed support for Mr. Garman’s stance in the land dispute.
Q: Did Mr. Garman receive any correspondence from East Suffolk Council?
A: Mr. Garman claims that he never received any letters from East Suffolk Council regarding the mast installation.
Key Definitions
Michael Garman: A 69-year-old retired plumber involved in a land dispute over a patch of land outside his house in Lowestoft.
Lowestoft: The location of the land dispute where Michael Garman resides.
Cignal Infrastructure Limited: The company that received permission to install a mast on the disputed land.
East Suffolk Council: The local council that granted permission for the mast installation.
Related Links
East Suffolk Council official website
Lowestoft Society