DISGRUNTLED neighbours have slammed a “monstrosity” six foot garden fence next door.
Locals in the leafy suburb of Mornington Crescent, in Nuthall, Nottingham, have hit out at the large boundary wall ever since it was built last year.
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Residents are fuming with Broxtowe Borough Council after they granted planning permission.
But the homeowner involved, Jonathan Lewis, dubbed the ordeal an “utter overreaction”.
He told Nottinghamshire Live they’ve “followed the rules to the absolute letter”.
“In my opinion it looks really nice and it’s completely lawful,” Jonathan added.
However, outraged neighbour Anthony Wilson, 58, is determined to see the wall torn down.
He claimed the six-foot boundary was constructed higher than proposed, and closer to the pavement.
“What has happened is an absolute travesty. Mornington Crescent is a suburban middle-class neighbourhood,” he said.
The veteran told how 15 fellow residents had objected to the plans and added “it should never have been approved”.
Anthony argued the wall has “absolutely devastated” the estate and “destroyed” the neighbourhood’s middle-class aesthetic.
“With the monstrosity of the wall it looks like some sort of prison. It should be demolished. It’s totally obliterated the view from my house,” he added.
His strong opinions have been echoed by another local, Tony Pinkstone.
The 69-year-old said the “appalling” wall “completely destroyed” and “devalued” the street.
A spokesperson for Broxtowe Borough Council said: “The wall in question has planning permission, and the heights of both the wall and the pillars are in accordance with the approved plans. The planning application considered all relevant comments, and the case officer came to an assessment that the wall should be approved.
“It should be noted however that any legal issues or covenants are not planning matters and cannot be considered in determining this or any other planning application.
“The position of the wall has recently been amended marginally, and set away slightly from the neighbouring property, and this change has subsequently been approved as a non-material amendment to the approved plans.”
Elsewhere, a family have been left horrified after their neighbour built a “monstrous watchtower” looking directly into their daughter’s bedroom.
Plus, a Russian tycoon has finally erected a fence around his £2.8m estate after a bitter row with neighbours.
Alexander Mosionzhik sparked fury when he submitted plans to install a six foot “Berlin Wall” perimeter that locals said would resemble a “prison”.
And, this is the moment a neighbour grabs 1.9m of garden and tears down shed in a bitter dispute, a couple claimed.
How to resolve a neighbour dispute
According to Citizens Advice
Talk your neighbour
If you feel as though you can safely, you should approach your neighbour to discuss the problem first.
Take a note of the time and date you spoke to them, in case you need it for evidence later.
If you can’t speak to them face-to-face, you can write them a letter.
Tell them about the issue you would like to fix and how they can do their part.
Talk to your neighbour’s landlord
If your neighbour is a tenant, you can talk to their landlord. This could be the local council, a housing association or a private landlord.
Get support from a residents’ or tenants’ association
If there’s a residents’ or tenants’ association where you live, they might be able to offer additional support.
If more people complain, the dispute will be less personal, which may help your case.
Go though a mediation service
Mediators are independent and will listen to both sides to help you reach an agreement.
You might have to pay for mediation, but their is financial support available for those who are eligible.
Contact your local council
The local council can actually still help solve disputes between neighbours – even if the neighbours are not living in local council housing.
Contact a local councillor or MP
You can contact a local councillor or MP for help, you can find out who represents you through GOV.UK.
You can write them a letter outlining the issue, remember to keep a copy for yourself.
Contact the police
You can contact the police if a criminal offence is being committed – for example, if your neighbour is:
- being violent or harassing you
- making excessive noise – the police can visit the neighbour or issue fines to people who have failed to stop the noise after being asked to do so, or they can confiscate sound producing equipment
If you’re not sure whether what your neighbour is doing is a crime, contact your local council, phone 101, or contact your local police station for advice.
Consult a lawyer
You can send your neighbour a letter from a solicitor to show that you’re serious about your complaint.
A letter from a solicitor might help to explain the legal position in a dispute, for example if neighbours can’t agree about the position of a boundary.
Take legal action
Legal action should be a last resort after you’ve tried speaking to your neighbour and taking action through your local council.
Going to court might resolve the dispute but damage your relationship with your neighbours.
It’s also expensive unless you’re eligible for legal aid or are using the simple procedure
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