A FURIOUS homeowner feels “threatened” in a three-year battle with their council – over a fence to stop strangers snooping.
The residents are outraged at orders to tear down the wooden structure – when it was installed to protect their grandchildren from nosey passers-by.
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Living on Highland Drive, in Worlingham, near Beccles, the frustrated homeowners have launched an appeal against East Suffolk Council.
The stubborn council argue the controversial fence is too high according to regulations – above one metre.
Council officials previously sent a notice to the homeowners encouraging them to lower the structure – or apply for planning permission to keep it.
But these residents were not going to give in easily, and replied saying they wish to keep it for privacy reasons, as their house is at the end of the road.
They pointed out they want to make their grandchildren feel safe when they play in the garden.
But, this was not enough for the council and they again ordered the locals to file for planning permission or reduce the height to one metre.
The furious residents involved a solicitor, who argued they had only removed a “like for like” fence and hedge that was already there.
Their letter read, as reported by Eastern Daily Press: “Presumably these neighbours have been written to in the same manner as our Clients.
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“We would be grateful for you to confirm.”
East Suffolk Council came out to review the fence yet again but still insisted it was too tall and issued an enforcement notice.
The distressed residents claimed they felt “correspondence from the council [was] threatening.”
An outcome to their appeal is yet to be decided.
Planning permission
According to thecrimpreventionwebsite.com
- You will require planning permission for any new fence, gate or wall over 2m in height.
- This will normally include the addition of trellis panels on top of an existing fence if this takes the overall height to above 2m.
- You do not require planning permission to grow a thorny plant along the top of your 2m fence (providing there are no support structures over 2 metres) unless there are covenants or restrictions. Check with your local planning authority
- If the new fence or wall borders or adjoins a public highway used for vehicles you may need planning permission if it is higher than 1 metre.
- If you live in an area, which has open planned front gardens there is likely to be a covenant restricting the erection of any fence or hedge to the front of the dwelling and you must therefore refer to the local planning authority before you carry out any work.
- If you live in a listed building or your property borders a listed building
- You do not normally need planning permission to plant a hedge, but you should check with the local planning authority first as you will have responsibilities to maintain the hedge so that it does not cause a nuisance to others.
- Before you carry out any work on your boundaries do check with the local planning authority first to see if there are any restrictions or if you need planning permission
