Complaint from the Mairie!

[Llantony]

Last year we bought a tiny ruin in our village - simply to get legal access to the space under the garage we were buying.

I'm very stressed as we've had a letter to our UK address from the Mairie saying they've had a complaint from neighbours about noise from the tarpaulin we put over the ruin to protect it as it's mostly below street level and someone had nicked the tiles from the roof (before we bought it).  Also 'falling stones'.  And telling us to sort it. 

A friend says he can't see any sign of falling stones and there are few neighbours: our garage on one side, a little park across the street ....  Across a little public staircase to the next street is the neighbour who nicked the tiles, but we've never seen her in residence.  I wonder if the complaint is just malicious - and who.....

For the 1st time since we bought our house, we aren't planning to visit between now and Easter (can't afford the flights + car hire and it's too far to take the car for just a week).  This makes it rather difficult.  Will the Mairie follow it up quickly?  What are the legal issues?  I'm getting very worried.

What really makes us mad is that further along, between our house and garage, an enormous crane has blocked the street for over a year!  It has done almost no work and lots are people are really fed up.  The postman can't get his van through so has to walk, it takes up space for several cars (parking isn't possible in many places due to narrow medieval streets).  There is no chance to get a fire engine through - our neighbour was flooded and the fireman arrived on foot!  Cars further down are damaged as people ignore the route barre sign and then reverse down the steep narrow street.  No possibility of deliveries.  We were hoping to move there full time in the summer, but couldn't get a van anywhere near.

Neighbours have even written to the prefecture as the Mairie doesn't seem interested, rumours of kickbacks from the developers responsible.

I plan to write to the Mairie apologising.  Their letter got the street wrong, but I'm pretty sure it's our building.  I'm very tempted to add our own complaint about the much bigger crane nuisance that they've allowed for so long.  Would that be unwise?

Any thoughts?

 

[YCCMB]

Can't really understand the geography from your post, but would it be possible to reply explaining you have no possibility of visiting in the near future, and apologising, but saying that it's unfortunately been difficult to start any work on the ruin due to access problems caused by the presence of the crane?? Sort of kills two birds with one stone, and makes your point whilst shifting the onus onto someone else for finding a solution to both your problem and that of the crane. I would, however, ask for confirmation that it really is your place they're talking about. If the street name was wrong, it may not be the only thing..............

[Benjamin]

Wait until a little closer to Christmas/New Year and initially raise the question clarifying if it's really your property they're talking about.

You'll be surprised by how long it takes to sort that one out, especially if it is a malicious complaint. It'll be Easter before you know it.

Benjamin

[Llantony]

Thanks Betty,

I think ours is the only property with a tarpaulin over it and, looking at the map, the street they mention is directly below - as it's very steep there are various stairways cutting through.  Still inaccurate which makes me wonder who complained as anyone living near would know what street they lived on!

The crane is between our house and the ruin so we could get a van near to the ruin but not to our house.

I'd like to complain about the crane but others have to no avail.  I just don't want to annoy the Mairie so they get heavy about our ruin.  (You look so young in your picture!)

And Benjamin - you could be right so I might just wait.  But the Mairie is far from consistent in enforcement.  Friends wanted to put in a small pool (cannot be seen from the street) and were told it must not not be blue, but looking at photos of the village in the display at the Mairie, there are several bright blue pools already.  Likewise, Velux windows in roofs are not allowed but we can see about a dozen from our garden.

[Benjamin]

I think this one could run a bit. When you get their response confirming it is your property (say third week of January) wait a couple of weeks and then reply telling them you are arranging for someone local (to the property) to make an inspection visit.

End of February by now and a quick letter to the Mairie saying that the inspector you had arranged has reported that he couldn't gain vehicular access to the property because a crane is causing an obstruction.

It's at this point you ask for their comments or inform them that you'll call in on your next visit in early April. That's all supposing that they reply to the first letter!

Joking apart, although I myself would use these tactics, I can understand your concern when you are remote from the property and trying to be as polite as possible in responding to requests from the Mairie.

Benjamin

[Chancer]

Without getting into the side issues of a crane, stolen tiles and some blue swimming pools, does it really matter who has complained about the noise nuisance? and why should it make you really stressed?

If you let a small matter like this (which he is probably duty bound to report to you) get to you,  you may find yourself getting drawn into and taking sides on other matters which the Maire may just view as petty retaliation

I would write to the Maire, thank them for bringing it to your attention and confirm that you will "attend to the problem" on your next scheduled visit.

That way if the complainant follows it up the Maire can say that he has written to you, received a reply and the matter is in hand.

[franglaise]

[quote user="Llantony"]

And Benjamin - you could be right so I might just wait.  But the Mairie is far from consistent in enforcement.  Friends wanted to put in a small pool (cannot be seen from the street) and were told it must not not be blue, but looking at photos of the village in the display at the Mairie, there are several bright blue pools already.  Likewise, Velux windows in roofs are not allowed but we can see about a dozen from our garden.

[/quote]

Hello,

Regarding the last paragraph, you may find that the Mairie might not be responsible for new rules. If there is a listed building in the vicinity any new building permit requests will be checked by the Batiments de France who have got strict rules about what they allow or do not allow. Of course any new building rule is not retroactive and that is why you may find houses with blue pools and/or velux windows in a conservation area where they are not allowed anymore.

As for the problem with the Mairie, the best is to go and see them in person when you're next there but in the meantime to write to them acknowledging receipt of their letter and explaining that you cannot come to France until Easter for family reasons.