A homeowner is seething after his modest garden fence, standing less than a metre tall, was branded an “eyesore” by local councillors.
Scaffolder David Grange was taken aback when the 0.9-metre black metal railings he erected outside his Ingleby Barwick home in North Yorkshire sparked controversy.
Despite initial approval from planning officers, the retrospective application faced rejection on March 5 following two complaints, as reported by YorkshireLive.
The council committee criticised the fence for disrupting the estate’s “open plan condition” and feared it could set a precedent.
Mr Grange defended his choice: “I just said I’d put a nice trellis down. It looked nice, it was in order. It’s low maintenance for everybody.”
He argued that the structure was hardly noticeable: “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.”
Confident that Stockton Council would approve his application without fuss, Mr Grange skipped the meeting, later expressing his bewilderment: “I didn’t even think it’d come up for discussion.”, reports the Mirror.
He questioned the council’s logic: “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.”
Is the council’s decision unjust?
The installation of a barrier was met with criticism, as it allegedly marred the street’s appearance and openness, contradicting original plans to maintain a shared, open atmosphere throughout the area.
However, planning experts had previously deemed the railing harmless, asserting it preserved the area’s airy feel while allowing visibility.
Councillor Sylvia Walmsley denounced the plan as “an absolute mess” and a detriment to the area’s ambiance during a meeting, as reported by Teesside Live. She stated: “It’s an absolute mess. It’s an eyesore. It impacts on the street scene.”
Councillor Norma Stephenson concurred, expressing concerns that approving the proposal might encourage other residents to request fencing, undermining the open-plan design.
She emphasized that if an open-plan concept was chosen, it should be adhered to consistently.
Despite a 9-4 vote against the proposal, citing concerns over its potential impact and the precedent it might set, the committee remained open to exploring alternative solutions.
Mr. Grange suggested removing the railings and considering an appeal or using bushes as a replacement, stating: “We’ll take the railings down and consider appealing this decision or putting bushes in to replace the railings.”
