Furious homeowner ordered to take down ‘absolute mess’ fence that’s just 0.9 metre tall
A homeowner has been left fuming after a fence he erected which was less than a meter tall in his garden was called an “eyesore” by local councillors.
Scaffolder David Grange did not expect any issues when he set up the 0.9 metre-high black metal railings outside his home in Ingleby Barwick, North Yorkshire. The planning officers had initially given the nod, but when the retrospective plan came before the committee on March 5, it was knocked back amid two complaints, YorkshireLive reported.
Councillors slammed the railings as a “mess” that shattered the estate’s intended “open plan condition” and could start a trend if approved. Mr Grange said: “I just said I’d put a nice trellis down. It looked nice, it was in order. It’s low maintenance for everybody.
“It’s only stuck in the ground. It’s just bought from a garden centre. You wouldn’t even notice the fence, it’s not in your vision. By definition it’s not even a fence. A fence is to enclose an area. This is just a strip of metal fencing, there’s a gap.”
Mr Grange was sure Stockton Council would pass his planning application easily and so skipped attending the meeting. He added: “I didn’t even think it’d come up for discussion.
“How can Stockton planning, who are the experts, say ‘yes we would approve this fence’, but then it’s gone to a committee meeting and the councillors have said ‘we don’t like that’? It doesn’t make sense to me.”
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It was claimed the barrier blemished the look and open nature of the street, clashing with the original plans to ensure a shared open feel throughout the locale. Planning experts had earlier said the railing was harmless to both the neighbourhood vibe and the safety of folks trotting along the roads—it even maintained the region’s airiness while letting the sights through.
During the meeting Councillor Sylvia Walmsley described the plan as “an absolute mess” and a blight on the area’s vibe, according to Teesside Live. She said: “It’s an absolute mess. It’s an eyesore. It impacts on the street scene.”
Cllr Norma Stephenson added: “I think it’s a case of ‘be careful what you wish for’. In my opinion there’ll be a lot of residents around here who’ll want fencing. It’s not even up straight, for God’s sake. I think if it’s open plan, it’s open plan and we stick to it.”
Despite the 9-4 vote against the contested proposal based on its potential negative impact and fear of setting a bad example, the committee left the door open for a natural solution. Mr Grange added: “We’ll take the railings down and consider appealing this decision or putting bushes in to replace the railings,”.
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