Developers erect scaffolding in family's backyard, halting use for three years, and consistently ignore requests while owing them £50,000.

In the quiet neighbourhood of Ealing, west London, a family's tranquil garden has become a construction site, leaving them in a state of disarray for over three years. Adi Bhargava, his wife Sugandha Rana, and their four-year-old daughter have been dealing with the aftermath of a construction project next door, spearheaded by developer Naman Pathak.

The trouble began in March 2022, when Pathak, on behalf of firm Fifty One The Mall Ltd, approached the couple for access to their private garden to mount scaffolding for a neighbouring property. The developer promised the scaffolding would be up for a maximum of 12 months. However, as of now, the scaffolding still overhangs the family's garden, posing a safety threat, and construction on the building next door has ground to a halt.

The construction site backing onto the couple's flat is currently locked up tight while the firm is being wound up. The developer had planned to demolish a two-storey building on the neighbouring site and construct a five-storey complex instead.

The garden was left in complete tatters, with screws, fragments of cement, and cigarette butts littering the area. Construction debris was frequently falling into the family's garden, posing a major risk to their then-infant daughter, including screws, tools, and plaster. Rodents, including rats, also entered the garden after the wall was demolished, while the family's daughter was still an infant.

In April 2023, less than two months before Mr Pathak left the company, a £5.5 million loan was taken out. Naman Pathak's company has a list of creditors whose declared debts amount to £12.2 million, with £9.1 million owed to two firms offering property finance. The remaining £3.1 million is owed to companies where Mr Pathak or his business partners have held director roles.

Despite a judge ordering Naman Pathak and Fifty One The Mall Ltd to pay the couple £32,000 in compensation and remove the scaffolding by February 17, 2023, the scaffolding remains, and the family has taken the developer to court seeking the £50,000 they are owed. Neither Pathak nor any legal representatives for him turned up at court.

It is worth noting that Naman Pathak is the son of McDonald's mogul Atul Pathak OBE, who oversaw a business empire of some 43 of the fast food firm's franchise restaurants. He has since sold his business and has franchises with Ben & Jerry's, German Doner Kebab, and Itsu.

The couple's legal battle with Naman Pathak and Fifty One The Mall Ltd continues, as they strive to reclaim their peaceful garden and the compensation they are owed.