Neighbours slam lawyer's 'ridiculous' bid to SUE village trust over 'drug taking, foul-mouthed youths' in the playground behind her £600,000 New Forest home who she claims taught her daughter, five, the F-word

Solicitor Marie Sampson has taken a local village trust to court after claiming that youths using a neighbouring play area have taught her young child swear words

Neighbours have slammed a lawyer's 'ridiculous' bid to sue their local village trust to court over claims that youths using a neighbouring play area have taught her young child swear words.

Solicitor Marie Sampson, 44, says she and her family have been plagued by noise and anti-social behaviour late into the night from yobs using a recreation area behind her £600,000 home in Brockenhurst in Hampshire's New Forest. 

The popular £63,000 Multi Use Games Area - which includes sports pitches and is used by the local Cubs and Brownies groups - is run by the Brockenhurst Village Trust and was opened more than two years ago following a community fundraising drive.

After branding the facility a 'significant nuisance', Mrs Sampson and her husband Martin have now - more than two years since they first complained - taken the Brockenhurst Village Trust to court.

But the mother-of-two's bid has been criticised by her neighbours - who say they 'have no problem with it' and those who complain 'need to get a life'. 

David Darnell, who has lived in one of the cottages on the opposite side of the road to the facility for three years, said: 'I have no problem with it - I think it's a brilliant idea.

'Having something like that in the village is brilliant as you need to cater for the youngsters.

'I think it is the old folks that are the problem. Some of these people need to get a life to be honest. Where are the youngsters meant to go?'

Mr Darnell, 67, continued: 'It makes you wonder what these people did when they were younger.

'They need to learn a bit of community spirit. It shuts at 8pm and, if anything, I wish it was used more often.'

Since the leisure facility opened, Mrs Sampson has logged more than 100 incidents that she says breach its opening hours with anti-social behaviour occurring beyond the 8pm designated closing time.

As well as bad language - which prompted her five year old child to ask what the F-word meant - Mrs Sampson has claimed there is evidence of drug taking and underage drinking.

She says anti-social behaviour has disturbed her family's sleep and that work conference calls she has hosted in her garden office have been disturbed by swearing.

Mrs Sampson claims she and her family have been plagued by noise and anti-social behaviour late into the night from yobs using a recreation area behind her £600,000 home (circled, shown in relation to the recreation facility) in Brockenhurst in Hampshire's New Forest

Mr Sampson - the secretary of the village cricket club - went on a furious rant about yobs using the Multi Use Games Area earlier this year 

Though she is seeking a noise abatement order under the Environmental Protection Act, Mrs Sampson (pictured with her family) says she does not want the facility closed down - acknowledging that even her own children use it

Another neighbour whose garden backs onto the Multi Use Games Area, said: 'I think it is the people who have nothing to do who are complaining.

'I have not got any problems whatsoever. I hear them all the time but it's just playing. It is so pathetic, you would think we were living in the Bronx or something.

'We sit in our garden a lot. We ate out there every night during the summer, and I have never heard any swearing.' 

A middle-aged mother who lives very close to the pitch, said: 'There is nothing wrong with the MUGA.

'It is one family that are unhappy about it. It is a huge benefit for the village and a big social space.

The local - who asked to remain anonymous - added: 'We only hear laughing and kids knocking on our door asking if my children want to come and play on the pitch.

'We're desperate to get our kids off the computer and out to exercise - why would we want to take this away?

'Talk of drink and drug taking is ridiculous. There is a rota to check the pitch and clear rubbish for the families around here.

'I have only ever found Peperami wrappers and coke cans. We do get some older kids up there, but what's the problem with that?

The popular £63,000 Multi Use Games Area - which includes sports pitches and is used by the local Cubs and Brownies groups - is run by the Brockenhurst Village Trust and was opened more than two years ago following a community fundraising drive

The picturesque New Forest village dubbed Britain's most-beautiful place to live in 2016 

The picturesque village of Brockenhurst in Hampshire's New Forest is straight out of a picture book - with thatched cottages and winding country lanes.

A 1,000-year-old yew in one of the village's churchyards is thought to be the New Forest's oldest tree. 

And, in 2016, the village was dubbed the UK's most-beautiful place to live by Leaders estate agents - who said it has 'bundles of charm and history'.

The picturesque village of Brockenhurst in Hampshire's New Forest is straight out of a picture book - with thatched cottages and winding country lanes

Notable landmarks that the village has to offer include the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive which is overtaken by rhododendrons which bloom in the spring, local media reports.

Brock Beach is a popular option for families looking to cool off in the summer - as it offers shallow water for youngsters to play in.

A Leaders spokesman said: 'The area is home to ponies, deer, donkeys and cows – all of which are known to roam the main street.

'Locals have the enchanting New Forest at their fingertips, a selection of warm and inviting pubs to enjoy and beautiful views in every direction.'

'We have never had any anti social behaviour.' 

When approached at her house today, Mrs Sampson said she did not want to discuss the matter in detail while the court case was still being dealt with but suggested the Trust should spend money on erecting suitable fencing.

She added: 'It is not up to me what the solution is.

'The Brockenhurst Village Trust have £180,000 sitting in the bank. Their objective is to provide recreational facilities - so spend the money.' 

While Mrs Sampson does not want the centre to close, she is demanding special £35,000 acoustic fencing be erected around the pitch and for it to be locked over night.

The court case has caused a rift in the historic village - which was once named Britain's best place to live. 

Local residents have penned 39 letters of support for the Multi Use Games Area - with one loving local dubbing it a 'wonderful asset' while another saying it 'shows off the community at its best'. 

But Mrs Sampson has letters and emails of her own from weary locals complaining about the noise.

Mr Sampson - the secretary of the village cricket club - went on a furious rant about yobs using the Multi Use Games Area earlier this year.

Writing on a Facebook page dedicated to the MUGA, he wrote:  'Do you have any idea what it is like, as a parent, to be unable to protect your children from swearing in their own garden and then to have it insinuated, by a Trustee, that this didn't happen? 

'After two years of continued swearing, we have given up reporting 'incidents' since the Trust is not prepared to take any measures to address the issue.'

Mrs Sampson appeared at Southampton Magistrates Court the week before last seeking a Noise Abatement Order against the trust - which is fighting her legal action.

The mother-of-two specialises in energy law and is registered with the Law Society under her maiden name Davies.

According to her LinkedIn profile Mrs Sampson was a Managing Associate at international law firm Simmons & Simmons between 2007 and 2014. Before that, she worked for firm Trowers & Hamlins.

When the Multi Use Games Area opened in February 2018 the trust described it as 'a recreational facility that will integrate the community, irrespective of age or status, through shared enjoyment of sports and social interaction.'

However, it has now resulted in a bitter dispute with both Mrs Sampson and the BVT employing their own sound experts to argue over whether the noise breached health guidelines.

The BVT says they have been unable to make any compromise with Mrs Sampson on how to settle the matter out of court.

The court case has caused a rift in the historic village (file image pictured) - which was once named Britain's best place to live

Acoustics experts Daniel Oldaker and Stephen Gosling outside Southampton Magistrates Court

The trust said it had previously sought to build a fence requested by the Sampsons to stop balls from entering their garden - but Mrs Sampson had herself objected to the planning application. 

They also offered to erect acoustic fencing on the boundary of the family's semi-detached property, provided they pay half the cost, but these plans were similarly rejected.

Though she is seeking a noise abatement order under the Environmental Protection Act, Mrs Sampson says she does not want the facility closed down - acknowledging that even her own children use it.

Instead she wants special fencing erected around the pitch which meets the recommendations of acoustic professionals, and for the facility to be locked at night.

Prior to the two day hearing on October 8 and 9, Mrs Sampson said: 'The trust has dismissed every complaint from a number of neighbours and will not accept that there are any issues to be addressed.

'They stated that they investigated complaints as to drug and alcohol use and found no evidence.

Treasurer of Brockenhurt Village Trust Tony Fessler is seen outside Southampton Magistrates Court

Since its opening, mother-of-two Mrs Sampson (her home circled, shown in relation to the recreation facility) has logged more than 100 incidents that she says breach its opening hours with anti-social behaviour occurring beyond the 8pm designated closing time

As well as bad language - which prompted her five year old child to ask what the F-word meant - Mrs Sampson has claimed there is evidence of drug taking and underage drinking at the centre

'However, other villagers have told us of alcohol being consumed when they have walked past and the police were informed about an incident of drug use following evidence being obtained.

'Given that these are a small number of incidents over two years, I would expect the trust to focus on the noise issues generally, rather than making claims that they have made investigations and found no evidence when evidence exists that those incidents occurred.

'In all my years as a solicitor I have not come across a position so unreasonable given the overwhelming evidence stacked against the trust.'

The trust insist that they have been 'very sympathetic' to neighbours, and have taken measures to respond to complaints; hiring two part-time caretakers and installing CCTV to monitor the site.

The proposed fencing will cost £35,000, the BVT said, more than half the original cost of constructing the facility.

The Brockenhurst Village Trust said: 'The trust has worked continually to minimise nuisance, by adding padding to deaden noise and raising fences to minimise balls straying into neighbouring gardens.

'We have met with the neighbour on several occasions, and made further efforts to minimise any issues.

'These have been rejected.'

After branding the facility a 'significant nuisance', Mrs Sampson and her husband Martin have now - more than two years since they first complained - taken the Brockenhurst Village Trust to court

The BVT offered to erect acoustic fencing on the boundary of the family's semi-detached property , provided they pay half the cost, but these plans were rejected

She is demanding special £35,000 acoustic fencing be erected around the pitch - and for it to be locked over night

Acoustics consultants hired by both sides were called to describe the noises the Sampsons were hearing, and conclude whether or not they amounted to a 'statutory nuisance'.

The court also heard audio clips recorded in the back garden of the house.

Judge Anthony Callaway is to publish a ruling on the case by the end of this month.

Letters of support from neighbours in favour of the play area were submitted by the defence for the judge to take into consideration.

As many as 39 letters were said to have been written by local residents, including one saying the facility was a 'wonderful asset.'

Another letter said it 'shows off the community at its best'.

As well as these letters of support, Mrs Sampson submitted letters and emails complaining about noise nuisances from the play area.

Judge Callaway mentioned a letter from a neighbour named Rosalyn who said she 'had to play the radio to drown out the noise of the Multi Use Games Area.'

The recreation area sits next to the village hall and Scout hut and is used by, among others, the village primary school and local sports teams.