ACCESS CHALLENGE: Clifton Lane/Arcade Steps residents, left to right, Louisa and Simon Mace and Daphne and Donald Leech.

CLIFTON LANE residents are outraged at a businessman’s plans to make it terre a l’amende.

The Royal Court will hear Ondrej Faborsky’s application on Friday 4 July at 10am.

Don and Daphne Leech have lived in the St Peter Port lane for 51 years. They are hoping to downsize, but say they have been unable to sell their home because of the dispute over access.

“There is permission in principle to build another two-bedroom home in our garden,” said Mrs Leech.

“Several people have shown interest in the past six years but as soon as the conveyancing clerk tells them of the access dispute, they pull out and banks won’t give them a mortgage.”

The couple allege Mr Faborsky has put five derelict cars in the lane.

Mr Leech claimed he and his wife had become prisoners in their home.

They use their car only during the daytime when their daughter, who works in Town, can put hers in the space where they park.
They believe Mr Faborsky would put another car in the parking space if they left it empty.

“We don’t leave our house after 5pm unless one of our children picks us up,” said Mr Leech, 73. “And we never move the car at weekends.”

Through his company, Central Hall Ltd, Mr Faborsky claims to own one-twelfth of the lane and Arcade Steps, which connect it to Town.

Mr and Mrs Leech say the problems started about five years ago when Mr Faborsky bought a property in Sausmarez Street. They believe his claim of ownership relates to that property.

Simon and Louisa Mace have lived in an apartment at the top of Arcade Steps for three years.

“If the application is successful and Mr Faborsky does own part of Arcade Steps as well, how are we supposed to get to our home?” said Mrs Mace.

The couple said the problem related primarily to the people who lived in the area but there were also the hundreds who used the lane each day to walk to and from the Arcade.

“If Mr Faborsky owns the lane, we would like to know why we, as parishioners, are having to pay rates to light it,” said Mrs Mace.

St Peter Port senior constable Jenny Tasker declined to comment but said she would be in court when the application was made.
Mr Faborsky also declined to comment.

The application was previously adjourned when the Royal Court ordered that it should be published in La Gazette Officielle to make aware of it parties who might have an interest.

Those wishing to attend are asked to notify the court by writing to HM Greffier, The Greffe, Royal Court, St Peter Port, GY1 2PB.