Mum ordered to tear down 6ft fence despite condoms and syringes thrown in garden

18 July 2023 , 10:05

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Natalie Anderson erected the fence without permission to stop unwanted items being thrown into her garden (Image: Copyright Unknown)

One mum has been ordered to lower the garden fence she built to stop condoms and used syringes being tossed into her children’s play area.

Natalie Anderson was left sick and tired at all the unwanted items being thrown into the garden where her kids and dogs played.

She decided to take things into her own hands and built a high wooden fence outside her home in Bilston, Midlothian.

However, the mum didn’t apply for permission and when she put in a retrospective planning application, she learned she had built it too tall, and had to half the size of it in places.

The mum tried to appeal but lost and the deadline to appeal to Midlothian Council has now passed.

Homeowner who built house on driveway forced to tear it down in planning row

She has been told to lower the 1.8m bits of the fence to 1.2m (Copyright Unknown)

Natalie told EdinburghLive: "It is ridiculous, the fence was raised to stop things being thrown in my garden and it looks much better than the old fencing or putting a hedge in, which would be allowed.

“It doesn't block any views on the road and is keeping my family safe. I even offered to put plants in front of it, but that was rejected."

Natalie left it too long to appeal to the review body, losing her chance - despite having three months to do so.

She said: "I didn't see anything in the letter telling me the fence had to be reduced in size, which told me where I should appeal to.

"Now the council is saying that because I went to the wrong place first, I have taken too long and had to appeal within three months of the decision."

The fence is under a metre high at the front of the house but rises to 1.8m at the side of the property.

Whilst road officers had no overwhelming objections, planning officers, whose decision it is, told the applicant that the fence must be reduced in height to 1.2m so it "would appear less stark and be more in keeping with the surrounding area and have less of an impact on road safety."

Marie Sharp