A pensioner's idyllic Cotswolds cottage, valued at £1 million, has been left with a diminished worth of £400,000 due to a council's seven-year scaffolding installation. Andrew Ewart-James, 79, has been living in his South Woodchester cottage for 49 years, enduring the eyesore and the financial burden of the scaffolding that was erected to prevent a car park from collapsing onto his property. He claims that he warned the council about a problematic retaining wall in his garden back in 1986, but they only installed emergency scaffolding in 2019. The scaffolding has been left in place ever since, making the home unsellable and causing Mr. Ewart-James immense distress. He feels trapped and fears he will die before the issue is resolved, as the scaffolding has reduced the property's value by £600,000. Despite his repeated pleas to the Shroud District Council for a long-term solution, the scaffolding remains, costing £368 a week to maintain. Mr. Ewart-James is now taking legal action against the council, hoping to sell his home and downsize before his wife's recent passing. He questions the council's incompetence and the impact it has had on his life and property value. The council, however, claims delays in resolving the issue, citing disagreements with Mr. Ewart-James' structural engineer. This case raises questions about the council's responsibility and the impact of their actions on the lives of their constituents.
