Hello Scope Community ❤️
Thank you so much for accepting me on your platform.
I have only just discovered Scope Forum, and am so glad I have!
I would like to share my experience with other disabled friends, and am seeking sound advice, hopefully 🙏
I wanted to ask for your help in offering coping strategies on how best to deal with disability harassment from a neighbour.
I’m all out you see.
I’ve exhausted every avenue in seeking help over my neighbour’s behaviour towards me.
Two years ago, I applied for a disabled parking bay outside my home, which is located in a tree-lined street. As there is a large mature tree directly outside my home (with uneven pavement, due to tree roots) council officers took the decision to install the bay a few metres further away from this tree — now positioning it, closer to my neighbour’s gate — located on a public road.
Ever since then, I have been subjected to the most upsetting, humiliating, unwanted behaviour, and have felt so desperately alone.
I have lived at my property for several years, and had not experienced any issues until the disabled bay was installed.
The very worst thing is having a CCTV trained on my garden — In full view. I believe this is a breach of my human rights, article 8, right to a private life.
The ICO did remind my neighbour of their duties as data controller, but, it has made no difference.
The once tidy, shared hedge —we shared without issue for 4 years — now exceeds the maximum height. I have no view out of the left hand side of my window, bar a tall hedge my neighbour has grown.
I feel hemmed in.
It also affects the quality of light.
The whole street has bore witness to my neighbour — for two years — placing their bins hard up against the kerb next to my car door — preventing me access to my car — every bin day.
The Council tell me it’s a police matter. The Police say it’s a council or civil matter.
Me. All I want is to be left alone.
Living in chronic pain is hard enough.
The the last thing I need is the added stress of taking a civil action out. Who could be bothered with the stress of that? Plus, I think an harassment order is a red herring for neighbours. You simply cannot avoid bumping in to each other.
As a protected character, I was so disappointed to discover there was absolutely no support from Police Scotland, my local council, Cllr Kevin Stewart, ICO, Citizen’s Advice Bureau, SACRO Mediation, and various disability charities I had reached out to around the UK.
Sadly, I was to soon discover — the hard way — the supposed ‘support’ in word, promised — is mere lip-service to disabled people.
In practice, there is zero support.
Thank You for lending me your ear ❤️
