Battling woman fighting to take control of part of a Harborough estate is now receiving abusive hate mail from some residents

A battling mum who fought to take control of a big chunk of her estate in Market Harborough is urging angry residents not to send her “horrible abuse”.

Distraught Lara Raffaelli, 54, of Angell Drive, is issuing the emotional plea after being moved to tears by some of the hate emails she has received from a few householders on Farndon Fields.

The fired-up activist was saluted as a “champion of the people” after she waged a brilliant campaign to replace Chamonix Estates and take over management of part of the sprawling development off Farndon Road last spring.

But “demoralised” Lara told the Harborough Mail: “A handful of us had to fight so hard for so long to get the chance to take over from Chamonix, who were useless, and look after our own estate, our own homes.

“But now, I’m very sad to say, our dream is in danger of turning sour.

“I am sick and fed-up of getting grief on a regular basis from a minority of very embittered people on Farndon Fields.

“I simply do not understand it and I want it to stop now – it’s entirely unacceptable.”

The distressed South African-born website editor stressed: “This abuse has left me very upset indeed.

“With the Covid pandemic still very much here we are all going through the toughest times we’ve ever known anyway.

“Now I’m getting abusive emails that are so horrible at times I’ve had to delete them straight away to try to get them out of my mind.

“What motivates people to attack me like this when all I’m trying to do is my level best for them?”

Lara charged into battle for scores of furious residents on Farndon Fields at the end of 2019 in a bid to eradicate “extortionate hidden fleeceholding fees”.

“We held public meetings with Chamonix Estates and 40-50 fuming people were turning up to support us as we strived to get justice for local householders.

“And we were all so delighted and relieved when the company finally agreed to hand over the reins to us last April,” she said.

“We have fought tooth and nail since to do our utmost for every single man, woman and child who are now looked after by us.

“We have slashed annual estate management fees from touching £600 to under £200.

“We are working flat out to install LED bulbs, new timers, replace old lights, maintain bollards, replace dangerous paving and paths and improve and care for gardens and our environment.

“We are carrying out regular health and safety checks to make sure that the areas we care for are safe.

“We are using local workmen and women as well as companies to cut our carbon footprint – and to do our bit to boost the struggling local economy,” insisted Lara.

“But still we get nasty emails from a minority of people who accuse us of not doing enough – or even slipping the money they pay us for work into our back pockets.

“They say that they pay their Council Tax to local councils so why should they fork out to us as well.

“These people have to understand and realise that they are paying for totally different things.

“We know that this isn’t straightforward and people seem confused at times as to what they are paying us for.

“But this is the bottom line.

“They are shelling out a lot less money to us than they ever did to Chamonix Estates for a much better job and a much better service.”

One “outraged” resident emailed Lara to tell her: “I am not paying for something that has never been serviced, a courtyard that has never been inspected and I am already paying a high amount of Council Tax which is supposed to be towards maintenance!

“I have no documents provided by you that suggests any liability to pay for this, my solicitor has got nothing related to any document you are referring to and also said there should be no additional charges.

“I am not paying any money into someone’s back pocket for a service that has never happened!”

Lara, who as well as having a full-time job also cares for her 81-year-old mum, said: “I’m at the end of my tether.

“Being a director of our own management set-up is very demanding.

“I’m giving up a lot of free time, alongside my colleagues, to write letter after letter, to solve problems, paying lawyers to investigate situations.

“And so to get outright abuse after all that is so demoralising and depressing – and it’s starting to seriously hit my mental health.

“Carrying out this vital role is exhausting enough without getting all of this devastating negativity.

“To top it all we are getting water bills for over £500 for houses on Medora Close – and that’s not even part of our sphere of control.”

Asked what she would say to her “poison pen” critics, Lara replied: “I’d invite them to come with me on a walk around Farndon Fields.

“I’d show them all of the good work that we are doing.

“And I’d highlight just how much this estate has improved since we managed to kick out Chamonix and take this on ourselves.”

Cllr Paul Bremner, a Harborough district and county councillor who’s long supported Lara, told the Mail: “I’m very sorry to hear this.

“I know for a fact that Lara and her team are doing the best they can.

“I’d call on the people of Farndon Fields to get behind her all the way – and to stop abusing her now.”

Cllr Phil King, the leader of Harborough District Council, said: “We will do what ever we can to help and support Lara.

“We could perhaps look at working with Lara to issue a joint statement to residents explaining exactly what they are paying for.

“But there is no question that they have to pay their dues to her management company as well as paying their Council Tax.

“And I can categorically reassure them that they are not paying twice for the same service.”