Battle of the speed bumps! Locals at war after traffic-calming measures are installed at private Grade II listed farm

• EXCLUSIVE: Parents of disabled daughter say new speed bumps are ‘hate crime’
• Ruma and Mark Lacey claim the bumps at Folly Farm Essex prevent her access 

With million-pound houses tucked away in an exclusive, leafy Grade II listed development, Folly Farm appears to be an ideal place to live.

But there’s a bump in the road – or two, to be more accurate – which have divided the gated community.

One couple say sleeping policemen installed without their input by the residents’ management company prevent their disabled daughter from going to and from the estate on her wheelchair.

Ruma and Mark Lacey also claim the road safety features are too high to allow their sporty TVR cars to pass over, leaving them at risk of damage.

As a result, they have contacted police over a ‘hate crime’ against their adult daughter, as well as ‘offensive’ emails they received.

Ruma and Mark Lacey also claim road safety features at Folly Farm are too high to allow their sporty TVR cars to pass over, leaving them at risk of damage

With million-pound houses tucked away in an exclusive, leafy Grade II listed development, Folly Farm appears to be an ideal place to live

Other residents in the seven-house development, on the site of a former arable farm, insist they were only trying to stop delivery vans ‘hurtling’ down the shared gravel driveway and made sure the route remained wheelchair-friendly

They are also facing small claims court action for refusing to pay the full management fee used to maintain the estate.

Other residents in the seven-house development, on the site of a former arable farm, insist they were only trying to stop delivery vans ‘hurtling’ down the shared gravel driveway and made sure the route remained wheelchair-friendly.

‘My daughter’s health and wellbeing is paramount. She has been denied her freedom and independence,’ said Mrs Lacey, who turns 60 on Sunday, an educational adviser.

‘We are thinking of leaving because of the rules and regulations and draconian actions.

‘We’re not really into neighbours and shared driveways anymore.’

But neighbour Gaye Smith, 71, insisted: ‘We didn’t put these ramps there to irritate them.

‘Since the pandemic, everyone gets everything delivered and now we get 20 more more vans coming down here every day and it’s dangerous as they’re hurtling along.’

Her husband, Geoff Murphy, 80, said of his neighbours: ‘They’ve put themselves in this situation. To be honest, they’re the biggest troublemakers in the world.’

The attractive development was converted from a 300-year-old farmhouse with outbuildings in 2006-7.

All the large detached and semi-detached properties have original features, including oak timber beams and vaulted ceilings.

Mr and Mrs Lacey moved into an old grain store that was divided into three levels and are now the only original purchasers still living there.

They claim Folly Farm Management Ltd, whose directors are all residents, used to insist on unanimous votes to ensure compromise on any proposals but the people who have moved in since rely on majority votes instead.

They also complain the newcomers are part of a circle of friends who have ostracised them and operate ‘majority rule by clique’ – something the other homeowners deny.

The first black and yellow speed bump was installed at the beginning of September, five months after a residents’ meeting the Laceys say they were not informed about.

They spotted a ‘flurry’ of emails discussing its height and position in July and August before the 55mm-high feature was installed on the driveway, which already had signs imposing a 5mph speed limit.

Mrs Lacey said: ‘Eve nearly fell out [of her wheelchair] on the ramp. She couldn’t go around and couldn’t go over. She has to tip the wheelchair but she couldn’t control it. She was so upset. She said it blocked her in.

‘I wrote an email that said please do not install any more speed bumps because my daughter simply can’t manage and we need to use the drive.

‘What I got back was disability hate messages, saying it’s our fault the speed bump is there because we go too fast, you’re not a team player and so on.

‘Eve called the police to report it as a hate crime because they are denying her access but they said it’s not really a hate crime. They’ve told us to keep our distance from them [the neighbours].’

Mark and Ruma Lacey are also facing small claims court action for refusing to pay the full management fee used to maintain the estate

The second speed bump, which is 85mm high, went in on October 22 and has a gap in the middle wide enough for a wheelchair to pass through

The attractive development was converted from a 300-year-old farmhouse with outbuildings in 2006-7

MailOnline has seen emails from other residents including one which railed: ‘You ignore emails, do not attend any meetings, criticise, complain, park your cars like children, paint your house a ludicrous colour…

‘The fact we even need speed bumps is partly from the fact your family drive like it’s a racetrack on the drive.’

The second speed bump, which is 85mm high, went in on October 22 and has a gap in the middle wide enough for a wheelchair to pass through.

But Mr and Mrs Lacey say it is on an unlit part of the driveway and is a hazard to their 30-year-old daughter, who has cerebral palsy and currently works at a supermarket near their home.

They also claim the hump causes problems for their TVR Tuscan, which has a clearance of 75mm, and TVR Cerbera, which stands 70mm off the ground.

Mother-of-two Mrs Lacey said: ‘The police say it’s a civil matter and the council say it’s not a material change to the site.’

Her husband, a 61-year-old illustrator, added: ‘I’d have to unbolt the ramps but that’s the provocation they want to make it a criminal matter.’

With feelings boiling over, Mr and Mrs Lacey – who also own two Minis and a Jaguar XJR but say their property has space for seven cars – have refused to pay a £25 increase on the estate’s monthly management fee.

Last week they received notice of action through the small claims court for a debt of £444, covering 12 months when they haven’t paid the full £85 fee, plus interest and costs.

The couple claim some of the bad blood relates to their refusal to publicly clap the NHS during the pandemic.

But they said this was for personal reasons as their daughter lost her zero hours contract job with the NHS during lockdown.

Mrs Lacey added: ‘We appreciate there are bigger problems [in the world] but this is a problem for us.

‘We have been reasonable and accommodating. We are up against a tide of hatred we don’t understand. I don’t want revenge – I just want people to be respectful.’

Mr and Mrs Lacey moved into an old grain store that was divided into three levels and are now the only original purchasers still living there

Mr and Mrs Lacey say it is on an unlit part of the driveway and is a hazard to their 30-year-old daughter, who has cerebral palsy and currently works at a supermarket near their home

Mr and Mrs Lacey moved into an old grain store at Folly Farm that was divided into three levels and are now the only original purchasers still living there

A van goes over the high speed bumps at Folly Farm in Essex

Emails sent by the management company indicate the Laceys were sent invitations to management company meetings.

Over the other side of the driveway, part-time bookkeeper Mrs Smith said only one ramp could have blocked Eve’s route and that had been designed with a space in the middle to accommodate her wheelchair.

She added: ‘No one wants these ramps but it’s one of those situations that’s arisen for the safety and wellbeing of everybody.’

Her husband said: ‘We’re in our twilight years. We don’t want confrontation.’

Another neighbour, Jane Hammond, said: ‘No comment. This is absolutely ridiculous.’

A woman who answered the door of a semi-detached house added: ‘I am not going to justify their comments with a statement.’

An Essex Police spokesman said: ‘We received an allegation of harassment and malicious communications on 4 September, reporting abusive language had been used via email.

‘Officers engaged with the complainant, investigating the circumstances of the matter, before giving advice. No further action was deemed necessary at this stage.’

Uttlesford District Council said: ‘The council’s planning enforcement team received a referral in relation to the speed humps – it was concluded the humps were not development requiring planning permission.’

Folly Farm Management Ltd declined to comment. 

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