A CONFLICT between Woolworths and the family of late Morisset resident Bert Gambrill has escalated, with a missing fence at the centre of the latest dispute.
The Herald reported in November that Mr Gambrill died at 97 after fighting to keep Woolworths off his humble Morisset property.
The retail giant took Mr Gambrill to court after the pensioner refused to let it use his land to complete a $30 million shopping centre next door.
A 13-metre wall, part of the Woolworths' project, has been built next to Mr Gambrill's Yambo Street property.
Mr Gambrill's son, Neil Gambrill, said half his father's fence and a windmill with sentimental value had gone missing since the wall was erected.
"As far as I'm concerned Woolworths has taken the fence and didn't bother to notify us," Neil Gambrill said.
He reported the fence as stolen to Toronto police.
A Woolworths spokesman said contractors working on the new shopping centre in Morisset temporarily removed a piece of fence, which was "on Woolworths' land".
The spokesman said that the fence was removed to build the wall.
"Within the next fortnight the old fence will be replaced by a new fence on the boundary of the centre's land and the adjoining property," the spokesman said.
"It was most unfortunate that the contractors failed to alert the neighbours."
Neil Gambrill said his father's property was on the market but no one would want it for residential uses because of the wall.
Ray White Morisset principal Peter MacIntyre said the site would be sold for commercial uses.
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