I built new garden fence to protect my vulnerable daughter - what happened next stunned me
Residents in this quiet street have been ordered to pull down their fences or face court action by the local council.
A man who erected a fence to give his vulnerable child privacy as she played in the garden has spoken of his "utter disbelief" after the local council told him he had to rip it down.
Michael, was one of several residents on a quiet street in Lliswerry in Newport, South Wales, who received letters telling them their fences were over a metre in height without the necessary planning permission.
The council claimed it had received a large number of complaints about other fences in the area and numerous homes were then sent the same letters.
Threatened with court action if they did not lower the the height of their fences, many people have now removed the boundary structures or trimmed them down.
Speaking about the turmoil of receiving the letter, Michael said his foster daughter "was much happier when the fence was up".
He added: "We had supporting letters from the fostering agency about how it would help if it was kept up but I don’t think it made a difference.
"It wasn't long up before we had a letter. I was just in utter disbelief. They gave us a deadline or said we’d be in court. So we had no choice in the end.”
WalesOnline reports Angela Cureton, who also received an enforcement notice, has taken her fence down completely to avoid court proceedings, as have others in the area.
Ms Cureton said she “took it personally” to think someone she knows may have complained, adding: "All my neighbours around here I know very well and it hurts to think that may have happened."
Lianne Garnett, who lives down the road, hasn't taken her fence down completely but has altered a part of her fence so it complies with the law. The other part can stay as it was as it has been there for more than four years. Lianne called the situation “ridiculous”.
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A council spokesman said the authority was legally obliged to investigate when a complaint about the height of a fence arises.
They explained how after they sent enforcement notices to two homes in the area following complaints they received a large number of complaints about “different types of means of enclosure” leading to more enforcement notices being issued.
A council spokesman said: “Newport city council is legally obliged to investigate complaints in relation to breaches of planning regulations and, if necessary, take action including the serving of enforcement notices. Enforcement notices were served on two properties in the Lliswerry area after complaints about unauthorised fences were received.
"The council then received a large number of complaints about differing types of means of enclosures for the boundaries of properties in the area. Each was investigated but only four were found to be in breach of planning legislation.
"Court action is only taken if remedial action is not undertaken by the property owner and the council would be able to recover its costs.”
