Front Garden Excavation Sparks Milton Keynes Neighbour Dispute
A Milton Keynes resident has been left feeling 'stressed and very angry' after returning from work to discover contractors had dug a 15-foot trench across her front garden to lay internet cables without her knowledge or permission. The incident, which took place in Buckinghamshire, has ignited a fierce feud between neighbours and prompted threats of legal action.
The Shocking Discovery and CCTV Evidence
Melanie Abbott, a 48-year-old who runs a cleaning company, arrived at her home to find piles of mud where the lengthy hole had been hastily filled in. It was only upon reviewing her Ring doorbell footage that the full scale of the operation became clear. The video evidence showed a worker in high-visibility clothing using a digger to pull up a section of Ms Abbott's grass on Tuesday afternoon.
The work was contracted by telecommunications giant Openreach as part of a modernisation effort to replace old copper broadband lines. However, the firm had executed the job at the request of Ms Abbott's neighbour, Carol Wilson, without ever consulting the homeowner whose property was being excavated.
A Heated Argument and Social Media Backlash
Footage shows a furious Ms Abbott confronting her neighbours after making the unwelcome discovery. She subsequently posted clips on TikTok, voicing her criticism of the situation. The videos resonated with the public, amassing over a million views and attracting a chorus of supportive comments from viewers.
Speaking from her doorstep, Ms Abbott explained the emotional toll, stating, 'We've both been here for quite a while and never had a disagreement until now. I've been here for 12 years. We barely ever see each other.' She described a 'quite heated argument' with her neighbour's husband in the aftermath.
Conflicting Accounts and Legal Repercussions
The neighbour at the centre of the dispute, Carol Wilson, who has owned her home since 1998, presented a different perspective. She claimed that Openreach had turned up unannounced and began working more than two months ahead of schedule.
Mrs Wilson told the Daily Mail, 'I had every intention of talking to her [Melanie] prior to that and offering to make good any damage to the grass. They turned up two months early... Openreach have caused this problem.' She asserted she was more than willing to pay for new turf to repair the damage.
Despite this, Ms Abbott remains unconvinced, suggesting her neighbour's recently laid tiled driveway might have influenced the decision to dig on her side of the border. She has confirmed she is meeting with a lawyer next week to explore potential legal action for criminal damage and trespassing. A spokesman for Milton Keynes Council confirmed they were not made aware of the work and will be investigating the matter.
