Dunstable school withdraws plan to fence-off couple's home

The couple have lived in their house, which is a former police house on the school's grounds, for 20 years

A couple said they have been left in "limbo" after a school's application to fence-off their home was withdrawn.

Sharon and Mark Gobey have lived in a house within the grounds of Hadrian Academy in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, for 20 years.

The school withdrew plans to fence in their family home with a 5.9ft (1.8m) metal fence, although the couple said the application could be resubmitted.

Hadrian Academy said it had no further statement at this time.

Mrs Gobey suspects the "school withdrew the application because they knew it was not going to work".

'Living in limbo'

The homeowners said they have seen the school's planner outside their property, which has led them to believe that new plans could be submitted.

They said: "We have been living in limbo. The school wanted to cage us in."

Sharon Gobey said her and her husband are "not out of the woods yet"

The couple's semi-detached home used to be a police house and the next-door property was for the school's caretakers.

The couple were told by the school that there were possible safeguarding issues, even though the recent Ofsted report had rated that aspect as effective following an inspection.

The new fence would have prevented the couple accessing their driveway, they said.

Mrs Gobey said the situation had caused her stress and she was not eating or sleeping.

Hadrian Academy said it "can confirm that the planning application has been withdrawn and have no further statement to make at this moment in time".