Neighbours' court battle over gargoyles lands them with £60,000 legal bill

When he decided to restore his roof, Alan Comer thought that a pair of gargoyles would be the perfect way to finish off the job.

He is now having second thoughts after the sculptures landed him with a legal bill of almost £40,000.

His neighbour, Mark Goodman, had complained that the gargoyles, which cost £25 each and weigh 50lbs, might fall off the roof.



A lengthy court battle followed in which Mr Comer managed to prove that the gargoyles posed no safety risk. However, because he failed to accept mediation before going to court, he has had to pick up half of Mr Goodman's legal bill.

The council maintenance officer said: "We have to pay our legal costs which are £20,000 and half of the neighbour's legal costs which are around £37,000. These are the most expensive gargoyles I have ever heard of. It looks like I'll have to sell up. I'm shocked that you can work to improve your house and do nothing wrong and be landed with an enormous bill like this."

The Comer family represented themselves in court to keep their legal costs down. But recruiting a barrister and a surveyor for one day of the hearing set them back around £13,000.