Eco-burial woman claims squatters' rights

[Mrs Fish]

Eco-burial woman claims squatters' rights

A Somerset woman who buried bodies in her neighbour's garden is claiming 'squatters' rights' on the land.

Barbara Butler buried humans and animals in unmarked eco-graves on land in Watchet as part of her business, Green Undertakings.

Her neighbours, Richard and Rosemary Rutter, discovered the bodies - which have since been exhumed - in 1999.

But now Mrs Butler wants the Land Registry to award squatters' rights over parts of the garden, based on her former use of it.

Mr and Mrs Rutter of Brendon Road, Watchet, say they had no idea their neighbour had used their land for the eco-burials for two years.

They say they were 'horrified' when they made the discovery in a corner of their garden.

They are strenuously opposing Mrs Butler's claim for adverse possession.

A land tribunal in Plymouth is expected to rule on the claim on Friday following a two-day hearing.

The case may be one of the last of its kind in Britain as new legislation due to take effect later this year will make squatters' claims much more difficult.

About time they change the legislation on this. I really hope they rule against her on this, if not they need

[TheLemming]

I was about to post this one. Looks like your a few minutes ahead of me today

[Mrs Fish]

TheLemming said: I was about to post this one. Looks like your a few minutes ahead of me today

Don't you just hate it when that happens? I was going to post the sex outside one yesterday and got beaten to it.

[Don]

Surely she should be locked up for this - not being allowed to pursue squatter's rights! Who exactly is doing the squatting too. The dead people?

Bizarre!

[LisaG]

Do I have this right?

She sneakily buried dead people in someone's garden - and now she wants the garden?

I can't be alone in not seeing the difficulty with this decision surely?!

[RichB]

Waste no more time, energy or public money on the woman, send her down for 5 years...

[JMGS4]

I thought that burials outside "legal" burial grounds were not allowed!?!?!?!
I just know that the crem in Edinburgh created absolute hell when I said I wanted family ashes to take with me!!!!! Awnted to know everything,,, as to where it was going etc etc

[Podie]

Mrs Fish - are you the official PH, non-motoring news hound these days?

[swilly]

I thought you needed planning permission to convert land into a human burial site.

More importantly where and how did she get the bodies. We are assuming she did not murder them

[Mrs Fish]

Podie said: Mrs Fish - are you the official PH, non-motoring news hound these days?

[CarZee]

Hound? Bunny surely

[Mrs Fish]