A church-going grandmother has been rendered bankrupt and destitute following a protracted dispute with her neighbour over parking arrangements, culminating in the loss of her £600,000 family home. Retired primary school teacher Marie Potter, 75, was evicted from her semi-detached property in the leafy Shirley suburb of Croydon, South London, after a bitter six-year legal feud with next-door neighbour Kirsten McGowan, 65.
The Origins of the Conflict
The conflict reportedly began eight years ago when Mrs McGowan's youngest son, Martin, passed his driving test and complained he could not manoeuvre around Mrs Potter's blue Ford Focus to access his garage. The properties share a driveway leading to separate garages, with each neighbour holding rights of access over the other's portion. Mrs Potter, a devout Roman Catholic who served as a safeguarding officer and sacristan at St Mark's Church, claims the situation escalated when she was allegedly assaulted by Martin on her driveway in March 2018.
Legal Proceedings and Mounting Debts
Despite police involvement and dropped assault charges, Mrs McGowan filed a civil case accusing Mrs Potter of harassment and blocking access. Mrs Potter maintains she was unaware of the August 2020 hearing at Bromley County Court, where she was ordered to pay approximately £70,000 in costs and damages. When the debt remained unpaid, it was charged against her home.
By June 2022, bailiffs had changed the locks, and despite a temporary reprieve, Mrs Potter was fully evicted in April 2023. Her brother, Tony Goodall, provided £10,000 for legal representation, but the court ultimately ordered the sale and possession of the property. The original £70,000 debt has now more than doubled to £150,000, with Mrs Potter also paying around £20,000 in storage fees for her belongings.
Health and Financial Consequences
Mrs Potter, who has three daughters and grandchildren, revealed the ordeal has severely impacted her health, exacerbating skin cancer and blood pressure issues. She has been living rent-free for two years with a fellow church member, as £650 of her £900 monthly pension covers storage costs. "I'm actually bankrupt and destitute," she stated. "This has been about throwing an old lady out on the streets—and nobody cares."
Property Depreciation and Unsold Home
The property, purchased for £136,000 in 1998 and once valued at over £600,000, has fallen into disrepair and is now estimated to be worth only £450,000. Mrs Potter claims her neighbour has breached court orders by not attempting to sell the house, which she had listed in 2020 with a potential buyer before the eviction. "They have taken control of the house but they have never attempted to sell it," she lamented.
Broader Implications and Judicial Comment
Judge David Halpern KC described the case as "yet another cautionary tale about the financial consequences of neighbour disputes for those without deep pockets." Mrs Potter's brother, Mr Goodall, 74, echoed concerns about injustice, questioning how a parking disagreement could lead to such severe outcomes. Mrs McGowan and her son declined to comment on the matter.
Mrs Potter concluded, "I've lived in terror. Without church help I would have had nowhere to live when I was evicted. If it wasn't for my faith and my friends, I think I would have driven my car into a tree by now."
