A man has defended parking his car on a pathway in an ongoing row with a church over 'illegal' use of the path by vehicles. Peter Escreet says the constant flow of traffic to the church is causing damage to his home and the path.
The 39-year-old has stationed his 4x4 at the front of his house and the middle of a pathway to St Wulfram's Church. He claims to have done this to try and put an end to the dispute with the church over the path, reports Lincolnshire Live.
Peter says he has no issue with St Wulfram's hosting functions and events, however the consistent stream of cars is causing 'ongoing damage' to his property. He said: "The house got hit, a car rolled over the step and cracked it, hit the plant pot, hit the post, hit the side of the wall, hit the corner of the walls.
"There's just been ongoing damage to the house and flagstones. I've paid to have three of them repaired and they cost £300 each."
Peter says he bought his Lincolnshire home back in 2015 and was told at the time there was no vehicle access to the public. However, he would be allowed to park out the front of the house to make deliveries and drop-offs.
The homeowner says parking on the path is not in violation of the Highway Code but driving on it is.
Peter said: "We don't park here. We have parked here to block people's access because we don't think anybody should be driving up here."
A spokesman for the church says while they could understand the homeowner's concerns, access to the church was still important.
He said: "A church has been on this site for over a thousand years and through its long history its points of access have developed with it. St Wulfram's is a living breathing building which at the centre of the community in Grantham offers lots of opportunities for people to come and celebrate our common life together.
"It is important that deliveries, contractors and disabled visitors can get as close to the front door as possible."
However, Peter refuted the church's allegations claiming parking his car there does not hinder people from getting to the church. He said: "I got a tape measure and measured the gap between the car and the wall, and it was fine. I've watched two mobility scooters go side-by-side past the car - there's no problem.
"Even with the Christmas tree parade, they got all the trees in and could get past. Yesterday, with the car there, they got all of them out in a day."
Since the ordeal began, the homeowner alleges he has been on the receiving end of abuse from locals. Peter added: "Someone came to the house the other day, quite angry, and I told him that I agreed with him that it should not be used as a pathway and he looked quite blank.
"You never know who's going to come and kick off at you. I didn't think it would come to this. It's been blown so badly out of proportion. It's a footpath - you can't drive on it."
In an effort to end the battle once and for all, Peter says he has offered to pay for an electric bollard, worth around £3,000, to be installed.
He said: "I've said that if we can get the bollard put in, we'll donate a wheelchair to the church. We are trying to be as nice as possible about this."
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