A RAGING man has revealed how he was ordered to remove a mere 90cm fence from outside his home by the local council.
Scaffolder David Grange said he was left “baffled” after councillors branded the railing an “eyesore”.
David Grange with the fence outside his home[/caption]
The fence is just 90cm tall[/caption]
He was stunned when local councillors in the town of Ingleby Barwick rejected plea to keep the fence standing on his property, calling it a “mess”.
The council argued that the fence “spoiled this aesthetic, ruined the street’s spacious feel and would set a precedent if given planning permission”, according to Teesside Live.
A statement on the council’s planning portal read: “Open plan was the original planning to keep an open communal feel with a focus on aesthetics, which this goes against. This will open the door for others to do the same and set a precedent if granted.”
Mr Grange said today: “I just feel it’s really unfair. It really baffles me.”
Authorities initially proposed to approve the fence, saying they found no harm to the area, road safety or neighbours.
Planning services manager Simon Grundy said the fence still allowed for views through it and preserved the area’s sense of openness.
But the proposal attracted disapproval from some councillors on the committee making the final decision.
Councillor Sylvia Walmsley, who was “amazed” by the proposal, said: “It’s an absolute mess. It’s an eyesore. It impacts on the street scene.”
Mr Grundy responded: “Historically we wouldn’t normally want to see walls and fences within open plan estates. Where we have lost appeals in the past, they’ve been where you have railings because you can see through it.”
Cllr Norma Stephenson said: “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. If it’s open plan, it’s open plan.
“Once you say yes to one, then it’s a free-for-all. I do agree it’s a mess. 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.”
Mr Grange said: “We’ll take the railings down and consider appealing this decision or putting bushes in to replace the railings.
“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.”
CHECK FOR COUNCIL TAX DISCOUNTS
IF you’re struggling with your council tax costs, it’s worth checking out whether you’re entitled to reduce your tax bill, which can save you thousands of pounds.
Some people can even get their bills slashed by 100%, meaning they wouldn’t pay anything at all.
Here are all the other discounts available.
If you’re a pensioner
If you don’t receive the guaranteed credit part of pension credit, you could still get a council tax discount if you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings.
If you live alone, you will get the 25% reduction, even if you’re not entitled to any benefits.
If you’re a disabled
People with certain disabilities can get a discount of up to 100%. This applies to anyone considered severely mentally impaired (SMI), which includes conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s or learning difficulties resulting from a stroke.
If you’re living with someone affected with an SMI, you could qualify for a discount, too.
To be considered, a GP needs to certify the SMI, and typically, they will need to receive at least one type of benefit, such as attendance allowance or personal independence payments (PIP).
Again, you can check your eligibility or that of a family member and apply on your local council’s website.
If you live alone
If you’re the only adult in your home, you can get a 25% discount on your council tax bill.
This includes if you’re a single parent with children under 18 in the house.
Usually, you’ll need to let your local council know to get the reduction.
Even if other adults are in your home, you might still get the 25% reduction, as some groups of people are “disregarded” for council tax purposes.
If you’re a student
Households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay any council tax.
To qualify as a full-time student, your course must:
- Last at least one year
- Involve at least 21 hours study per week
If you’re between 18 and 20 and doing A Levels or equivalent, your course must last at least three months and involve at least 12 hours of study a week.
If there is an adult who is not a student in your household, they will need to pay council tax, but should still qualify for a discount if everyone else is a student.
