The real reason behind James Middleton’s neighbor feud revealed

After exchanging quarrels London Living at the graceful pace of the Berkshire countryside, James Middleton He was lyrical about his new village with two cozy pubs and friendly neighbors.

But, as the email said last week, relations with one neighbor in particular aren’t so friendly. Duchess of CambridgeThe brothers are embroiled in a feud with businessman David Alderton and his wife Karen, who live just 130 yards away.

Initially, the pair were thought to be at odds over heated planning disputes with both men wanting to renovate their home.

But MailOnline can reveal the real source of discomfort between warring neighbors. It stems from Mr. Middleton’s passion for hoarding aging farm machinery, keeping the dump truck running for hours and “pumping toxic exhaust fumes into the surrounding countryside”.

After living quietly in the country for seven years, Alderton says his peaceful idyll was shattered when the Middletons arrived on his doorstep 18 months ago.

Middleton turned his property with rusty cars and debris into what he calls “Steptoe’s Garden,” after the sitcom “Steptoe and Son,” he says.

Meanwhile, in their escalating feud, Mr. Middleton reported his neighbor to the police for trespassing on his 12-acre small property, calling him “intimidating” and “disloyal.” criticized.

In an angry verbal battle, Alderton told MailOnline: But our peace has been shattered.

“His property is like a steptoe junk yard, with three barns full of old farm machinery that serves no one and everything is done 50 feet from the front door. I’m here.

“Additionally this month undesired, poisonous and toxic fumes have entered the house from the apparently unsuitable machines he uses.

“It is a matter of public record that a complaint has been made to the local council but nothing has been done.”

“He’s a hoarder and won’t say no to anything. He probably thought some farm tools would go well with the new green well where he’s been hanging out.

He continues, “Old, noisy, dirty, smelly machines, old Massey Fergusons, old threshing machines, wood crushers, etc.

“Since it’s a farm, I think he thinks it’s justified to have agricultural machinery, even if it’s derelict.

“But he has a duty to care for his neighbors and the environment. He shouldn’t affect anyone nearby.”

The two men initially fell out when they decided to upgrade their rural property in the peaceful village of Dingley, Stamford, Berkshire.

Mr Middleton and his French wife, Alizee, were granted permission to make significant changes to a Berkshire Grade II registered farm purchased for £1.45 million after opposing the Aldertons’ application.

But Middleton hired a veteran town planner to detail why Alderton and his wife Karen should reject their application to demolish the two-bedroom bungalow to build a “wonderfully modern home.” I angered my neighbor by writing a five-page report to

Perhaps surprisingly, Mr. Alderton claimed he had no complaints about the neighbor’s planning controversy.

Instead, his real problem, he says, is the noisy cars that drive in and out of his land, with a high-profile neighbor tending to collect farm machinery.

“Our ambition was to develop our residence and build a modern, eco-friendly home that really supports its restoration as an important part of our future here,” he said. said.

“Mr. Middleton’s subsequent objections to our planning application and his involvement of planning consultants were considered disrespectful and regrettable, and had no effect on the dismissal of the appeal.

“Interestingly, given my personal view that people should be allowed to develop their homes as they wish, provided no one is directly affected by such developments, he We felt it was inappropriate to contest the plan application.”

Alderton, who runs a successful motorcycle dealership, added that those who expressed negative views about his construction plans “should playfully care about their business.”

Alderton denied trespassing on his wealthy neighbor’s property and said he only climbed the gate “to draw attention to the noise of the tractor.” He also denies any long-running disputes with other villagers or the parish council.

When Middleton moved to a farmhouse in Berkshire, he and Alizee said they felt “very lucky to live in a small village”, adapting well to the slow pace of rural life, he said. It was all different when

His younger sisters, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, were seen taking leisurely strolls with their children on country lanes surrounding the brothers’ farmhouse. A favorite Berkshire pub, The Old Boot, is located in Stamford Dingley.

Middleton likened it to life in London, saying there is “no community” in the capital. But he seems to have had enough of his closest neighbors already.

He said: “People who choose to live in rural areas in farming communities cannot accept the occasional noise and smell from tractors and animals, especially if they live next to farms. It’s a pity.

“We are very sensitive to distance from our neighbors, but if we do everything our neighbors want, we are neglecting our responsibility to the animals and the countryside.

“The complaint is dishonest. Our neighbor, Mr. Alderton, has lodged a complaint with West Berkshire Council which finds no reason to investigate.

“We have voluntarily participated in a mediation program run by the City Council to hear Mr. Alderton’s concerns and have attempted to address some of the issues raised in good faith, but the complaints continue.

“Since moving we have received threatening letters from Mr Alderton and have had to call the police for trespassing.

“Mr Alderton has a history of disputes with neighbors in the village. but all were rejected.

“Recently, an appeal of the planning application was again dismissed and Mr. Alderton’s property is now being investigated for violation of planning rules for a garage on his property.”

Meanwhile, neighborhood squabbles will continue — Mr. Alderton admitted he is submitting plans to modify his eco-friendly housing to planning authorities.