New Milton homeowners set to report New Forest District Council to local government ombudsman in row over fence

Disgruntled homeowners are set to report the district council to a national regulator over a planning outcome that left them feeling like they live “in a prison”.

Alison and Ian Lawrence say the authority’s decision to let their neighbour keep a tall fence around their property - despite it being built without planning permission - has been “soul destroying”.

Planners granted retrospective permission in November for the retention of the boundary around Nil Des in Ashley Lane, New Milton, despite objections from Alison and Ian living next door at Oakhurst.

Alison told the A&T that people have since visited her home and said the fence makes them feel like they are in Colditz.

“We’ve virtually been told we don’t have a right to light,” she said. “This fence overshadows our bathroom window, and even an NFDC planning officer who paid us a visit did agree it was quite dark in there.

“He said he thought we stood a good chance of having the height of the fence dropped because it is so high, and blocks a lot of light from the garden, but obviously that has not happened. I heard someone else liken it to Colditz.

“The height of the fence also makes accessing our driveway very dangerous.

“I think when highways inspectors visited the site they just looked up the road and saw fences at a similar height, but they didn't take into account that we are on the brow of a hill.

“We now have to reverse at some speed to either exit or access the property and it leaves no time for anyone else on the road to react.”

Alison said she also questioned the construction of the fence after claiming that concrete mountings were placed on council land between the neighbouring properties. She said the fence has caused drainage issues on her property, too.

“I’ve written a complaint letter to NFDC about this and I’ve had a reply which basically parroted back what was said in the case decision and officer’s report.

“I will be taking this forward as a corporate complaint now because a lot of what was said in the application process was factually incorrect - measurements that were taken on the site were wrong.

“I will then take it to the local government ombudsman if I have to.

“It feels like living in a prison and it has been soul destroying - I could cry.”

Prior to the council granting retrospective planning permission for the fence, New Milton Town Council had written a letter of objection to the authority saying the fence is “unsightly, unneighbourly and over dominant”.

Alison has also written a letter to New Forest West MP Sir Desmond Swayne appealing for help on the issue.

An NFDC spokesperson told the A&T: “The planning application to retain the fence at Nil Des was approved by our planning officers on 14th November under delegated powers.

“The case officer reviewed the application, considering the relevant policies of the development plan and feedback from consultees, including neighbours, with no objections being received from either our tree officer or the highway authority.

“The design and impact of the fence on the area and neighbours were carefully assessed.”

They continued: “Complaints will be handled by the development management service manager as per our corporate complaints procedure, the details of which are on our website.

“There is no right of appeal against this planning decision.

“If the neighbour remains dissatisfied after our complaint process, the matter could be referred to the local government ombudsman.”