Business

Shared boundaries and repairs

WHAT happens if your neighbour dies leaving a house in such disrepair it needs a virtual rebuild prior to it being sold and, worse, it has a house wall actually on your boundary and next to your garden. What protection do you have?

Firstly in certain circumstances, you can have rights over neighbouring property such as rights of support. If a retaining wall on your land is likely to collapse because your neighbour had not maintained their side of the boundary, then you might have a claim.

Secondly if your neighbour’s building contractors cause damage to your property during the course of the work, then you might very well have a claim against them if you could show that they were negligent.

Although contractors should be insured against such claims, there are obvious difficulties in knowing who to claim against. You would really need to make your neighbour liable for the damage.

The answer may lie in a statute called Party Walls, Etc, Act 1996. That says that if your neighbour is doing work on a party wall (a wall that divides your properties and half of which is owned by each of you) then he has to serve a notice under the Act. Unless you expressly consent to the works, you are deemed to “dissent”.

Then, each side would appoint a surveyor who would negotiate a party wall award. This would make a provision that your neighbour has to compensate you for any damage caused by the works.

Even if no work is being carried out on a party wall, a different notice sometimes has to be served under the same Act if work is being carried out within three metres or six metres of the boundary. This depends on whether work is being done to the foundations of your neighbour’s property.

As a practical measure, it would be sensible if you could track down the new owners of the house and find out what their intentions are. It is worth checking at the Land Registry to see if the title to the property has been updated since the neighbour died.

If not, searches can be carried out to see if anyone has taken out a grant of probate on the estate and that will enable you to identify the executors. If you are in any doubt about your position, you would do well to seek legal advice.

EDWARD LYONS

NOW 50 YEARS IN THE CHEW VALLEY

Email: enquiries@lyonslaw.co.uk Website: www.lyonslaw.co.uk Telephone: 01275 332168

An established and progressive law firm providing a personal and cost-effective legal service for commercial and individual clients. l Family & Divorce Law l Co-habitation disputes l Inheritance disputes l Wills and Living Wills l Powers of Attorney l Administration of Trusts l Property – sales and purchases l Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence claims

OFFICES AT: Chew Magna 01275 332168 Westbury-on-Trym 0117 950 6506 Kingswood 0117 967 5252

Mendip Times reduces travel costs

MOLECATCHER

NO MOLE NO FEE

100,000 potential customers within a short distance of your business

Telephone 01761 417100

www.mendipmolecatcher.co.uk

P & C Logs

Call Phil on 07734 098323, or Colleen on 07785 250033 or on Evenings 01934 741941

Friendly prompt service from Phil & Colleen at their farm in Charterhouse Quality seasoned beech and ash hardwood, chopped and split into a variety of load options (with free delivery).

Business award winners

GOATS of the Gorge has been named Start-Up of the Year in the South West Business Awards. Founder, Nick King, who started the company from his home in Felton, was joined by his sons Danny and Ricky, when he moved to Fairseat Workshops in Chew Stoke earlier this year.

Their natural skincare products are now reaching an international audience, as well as supplying three wholesalers and 150 retail outlets at home.

The judges said: “Your growth has been outstanding - up 250% on the previous year. We love your ethical and sustainable business. Very entrepreneurial – well done!”

Nick said: “Thank you to all of our customers and retailers. We wish you a happy New Year.”

So why Ginge Tours?

GEOFF Wessell is putting a whole new spin on the idea of asking a policeman for directions. After a successful 30-year career in the police service, reaching the rank of Assistant Chief Constable, he’s now set up his own independent travel company.

It was on a five-month motor home “decompression” tour around the UK with his wife Jo after retiring in April 2021 that the idea first formed.

Their love of travel had taken them to fabulous far-flung places, and it was this experience along with his hard-earned police management skills which led him to set up Ginge Tours.

He said: “I found there to be a lot of similarities, particularly when compared to the senior rank I achieved. Customer service, risk assessment and logistical planning and care are at the heart of policing and senior mangement.

“All of these have a cross-over into providing travel services. Even more importantly is the ability to keep calm in a crisis!

“When a customer phones you at 1am in a bit of a panic due to their plane being cancelled due to the oncoming hurricane it is just like being on call in the police! Deep breath, keep calm and reassure, and then work out the solution!”

Ginge Tours was the nickname for trips he organised to rugby matches, so that seemed the obvious name for the company, though he’s no longer ginger!

He promises “Independent Travel Together”. Customers are travelling independently, not beholden to the timetables of pre-packaged tours, though he can provide these. He says he wants to provide local people with the travel they want – be it a trip of a lifetime or a few days in the sun with the family – but with great personal customer service.

He said: “I put the hard graft into finding what you want, checking the prices and the timetabling, putting together a trip to suit your desires and budget.

“The ‘Together’ part is me – your personal travel consultant. I put the package together but one that is ‘independent’ or unique to you. All you have to do is pack and start travelling – as stress-free as possible.”

He has invested in becoming a member of Protected Trust Services, which provides the customer with all the consumer protection you normally get from a “major player”. Ginge Tours is not a franchisee of a bigger travel agency. His lower overheads equals lower prices.

His aim is to provide local people with great trips at great prices and hopes people will trust this former officer with their precious time off!

Details: www.gingetours.co.uk or Facebook pages @Ginge Tours

How to get in touch: Go to www.gingetours.co.uk Ring Geoff 07786 748070 Text or WhatsApp: Geoff Via Social Media:

l Providing travel experiences tailored to your needs l Personal service is paramount l Deal with me personally at all times not a service centre or online l Give me the planning problem –don’t spend hours doing it yourself l Flight Only, Cruises and Groups also catered for

I can provide everything from trekking trips in the Andes to typical lowcost package holidays to Europe, along with travel extras such as airport parking and transfers and I have access to a huge range of hotel providers across the world.

Customers have Consumer Protection via Ginge Tours being members of Protected Trust Services. All bookings will be Package Travel Regulations compliant and have ATOL protection as necessary. Full details can be found at www.protectedtrustservices.com

Looking forward to a busy new year!

CHRISTMAS Greetings from all of us in The Mendip Society and all good wishes for the very best we all hope for in the coming year. The folk of Mendip pulled out all the stops and supported the great array of events all over the area in the last year, run by a very big number of groups and organisations, large and small.

We knew we were going to be busy –and we were. From the talk in Wells on Cecil Sharp and his collected songs, which attracted nearly 60 enthusiasts, through the Mendip Rocks Festival days – to the Windrose “50 years and More of Mendip in Film and Music” at Shipham – the response has been superb.

And we now know it’s going to be a busy new year too. In chronological order – we start on Friday, January 6th and Sunday, January 15th (barring 3ft of snow!) with two separate hedge laying tuition days in our nature reserve, Tania’s Wood in Ubley.

A lot of our boundary hedges are the original mediaeval 1240 deer park boundaries and in much need of restoration. As such, these days are only for those who have done some previous training with us or another hedging society. Both our professional tutors will be there on both days and there are still some places (which must be booked) available on both days.

For more info and to book a place on either of the days please contact Sally, 07816 266531. sallydavis99@hotmail.com

All tools will be provided, although if you have any of your own which you are used to using please bring them. Timings and joining details will be sent at the New Year.

For many years we have held our own Society Wassail Ceremony and 2023 is no exception; however, it will not be on or near the traditional old Twelfth Night as usual, but on Friday, February 3rd due to the call on the time of our Master of Ceremonies, Les Davies, by other communities. However he will be leading us on February 3rd.

We have booked Burrington Village Hall from 6.30pm in which to assemble and choose the Wassail Queen by finding a bean hidden in a piece of apple cake. From there we process through the village to the orchard, where we will pick a venerable tree to receive our cider and blessings for the whole orchard.

Happily, we also have the company of our great friends, The Barley Rye Choir, who love wassails and their wassailing songs as much as we do. The evil spirits will be dispersed with our fearsome noises and the gun of the “spirit frightener” (with blanks of course, ’elth ’n safety!).

Then, it’s back to the hall for warming liquors and cake, cheese/biscuits/crusty bread, (and this year we are venturing into the world of mulled cider!). There will be a donations box on the table for the Barley Rye choice of charity of 2023. Now, what to bring: warm clothing (hats are good) and good boots or shoes are a must.

For the noise making, a tin plate or can and a spoon are ideal. A torch is useful as Burrington is a no-lights village, plus the grass could be lumpy underfoot. Do join us for a great traditional evening event – so that we can mull and cook the right amount of everything we ask that you try and let us know how many to expect. How to do this is given in the box below.

So finally to the long-awaited famous fun QUIZ with questions researched and devised by Sue and Peter Gearing and Les Davies. Everyone is invited to come with friends as a team but individuals can join in a team on the night as well. Details below.

SOMETHING OF EVERYTHING QUIZ

FRIDAY 27th JANUARY 2023 7pm for a 7.30pm prompt start THE MENDIP SOCIETY FUN QUIZ

Prizes for the Best Team

The Wellsway, Harptree Hill, West Harptree, Bristol BS40 6EJ

With a bar and good, free parking

PRICE: £10 –to include quiz and a cold buffet supper

Please join us for this fun evening and make up a team of 4-6 people and give yourselves a name, or come as an individual EVERYONE WELCOME

Wassail queen

HOWTOBOOKFORTHE QUIZ

BOOKINGis by Sign-Up Genius. Go to this live link (click on the text box) https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4DA4AA2BA6F8C34-something

Record your definite intention to attend – then “pay-on-the-door” on the evening. Make sure you press save and submit right at the bottom of the Sign-up page for your name to be saved.

Otherwise contact Peter 01761 221995 email membership@themendipsociety.org.uk between December 15th-30th and Judith 01275 874284 secretary@themendipsociety.org.uk from January 1st-27th.

Please let us know before January 25th if possible, to help the Wellsway with the catering. Use the same contacts to book for the wassail.