Householders in garage access row with charity

Access to the back of some residents' homes has been blocked after a charity put bollards up at the entrance to the route, householders have said.

The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO), a charity supporting former coal miners and their families, installed the barrier at the end of an access road in Highfields, near Doncaster, to stop vehicles driving on to its land.

A spokesperson said damage caused by "irresponsible vehicle use" and "vandalism and fly tipping" had posed serious risks to people using the field.

But some residents said they had been driving on the outer edge of the field to access their garages for more than 50 years and were now unable to do so.

The land, off Market Street, was previously owned by British Coal before being taken over by CISWO in the 1990s.

The charity also took over the stewardship of the site in 2019 after the closure of the local miners' welfare club.

In January, the charity said they had spent "tens of thousands of pounds" on security improvements including fencing and bollards because of issues with anti-social behaviour, such as quad bikes being driven across the fields.

However, residents said the bollards were affecting their livelihoods because they did not all have a key to temporarily remove them to access the back of their properties.

Market traders Kim Taylor, 56, and Simon Elliot, 64, have lived in their property backing on to the field for nine years.

"We bought the house because of the garage at the bottom of the garden," Elliot said.

"It means we can load up our stock and put it straight into our van parked out the back."

But the couple now have to "lug heavy boxes" through the garden and house.

For Elliot, who has the chronic lung disease emphysema, this has been difficult.

"Simon's hardly sleeping because he's worried about it, because obviously it's affecting our business because all our stock's in the garage," said Taylor.

The couple have now sought legal advice about the issue and said they had been advised by a solicitor that they should still be allowed full access to the land based on longstanding use by residents.

"They've got no legal right to stop us accessing this land. People have been driving down here safely for 50 years. Under easement laws they still should," Elliot said.

George Kelly has lived in Highfields all his life and said that, of about 40 properties that back on to the grass fields, his is one of six where householders have been given a key by CISWO to unlock the barriers.

He said this was because access to the rear of the property was written into his house deeds.

The charity has advised Kelly not to "share" his key with others.

"I'm glad I've got a key but I also feel guilty," he said.

"We're a community here. The others should have a key too.

"It's not the people who've caused problems round here, it's those bollards."

CISWO previously said it had spent £11,000 in one year on cleaning the field up and improving security.

Taylor said "anti-social behaviour" had been an issue and that people were not "against" the idea of bollards.

"All we ever said is, yes we think it's a good idea, we just want keys to get in and out and regain and keep our access rights," she said.

"The charity are here to help mining villages. We have generations of old mining families here. They're just hurting us."

CISWO chief executive Nicola Didlock said the charity had "engaged with residents around access" and that "all those with a legal right to enter the field to reach their property have been provided with the means to do so".

"Our responsibility remains to manage the land safely for the benefit and protection of the whole community," she said.

"Preventing dangerous vehicle intrusion is essential to achieving that.

"CISWO remains committed to working with residents to secure and improve the playing field."

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