"It is notable that this claimed right of way is not the only access to the front part of the claimants’ garden, and there is access both from the house into the claimants’ front garden, as well as access around the sides of the house to get to the front part of the claimants’ garden, without the need to go through the house," he said.
Long-time residents of pretty Ditchling village in East Sussex, Barry and Sarah Dean say they have for years used a right of way over part of their neighbours’ land to bring their mower and wheelbarrows round so they can easily tend their front lawn and keep it "looking smart".
“The disputed right of way is important to them because it’s the only means of vehicular access to the front of their property and the only convenient means of taking equipment such as lawnmowers into the garden at the front of the house,” he told the judge.
The Deans’ barrister, Michael Ranson, told the court that they had always used a "right of way" over a strip of the neighbouring property’s land to access their front garden.
Mr Nathan, 57, and Mrs White, 49, claimed their neighbours had no right to cross the land attached to their £500,000 home, telling them instead to drag their mower through the house or down awkward garden steps on the Deans’ own property.
