A YOUNG family say they feel unsafe in their own home because of a dispute over a right of way.

Claire Cooper said she and husband Brian knew about the right of way their house, in Goring Road, Colchester, shared with its next-door neighbour when they bought it.

The couple had no problems until the Colchester Borough Homes-managed property next door became empty.

Mr and Mrs Cooper began to lock the gate to stop other people getting down the passageway between the two houses, but were told by Colchester Borough Homes it would take action if they did not remove the lock. Mrs Cooper, 28, said: “We have offered them a key, but they refused.

“We never had a problem before, because we gave our neighbours a key and they were more than happy. It gave us all peace of mind.

“But when the property became empty, the situation went downhill. Without the gate locked, we are not happy to let our children play out there, which seems unfair.”

Mrs Cooper, mum to Tayen, six, and Owen, four, said they had also offered to move the right of way to the side of the house, but this had also been refused. Gordon Steed, tenancy services manager at Colchester Borough Homes, said it actively encouraged tenants and private homeowners to do what Mr and Mrs Cooper were doing, where there was a shared access.

In this instance, there had been a breakdown in communication with the housing officer involved, he added.

He continued: “When it became empty, we made every effort, as we always do, to get new tenants in as quickly as possible.

“It was under the pressure of doing this the housing officer had to insist the access stay open.

“But new tenants are imminent and I understand they have already been given a key by Mrs Cooper, which we welcome.”