Council row over Admaston garden fence amid security fears

Mark Leighton argued that the hedge did not provide security for his elderly mother

A row over a garden fence has been sparked after a council refused retrospective permission for it to be put up.

Plans were submitted for a 1.8m (5.9 ft) wooden fence which had replaced a hedge in Wellington Road, Admaston.

Applicant Mark Leighton said the trees did not provide security for his elderly mother.

The plans were refused due to the fence's "overall scale and design".

In his application to Telford & Wrekin Council, Mr Leighton said: "The trees did not provide security for my elderly mother, who has breathing difficulties, or my dogs, and were no longer effective at creating a barrier to air pollution or sound pollution, caused by the traffic on Shawbirch Road, which has increased greatly since they were planted when the house was built."

No objections were made to the retrospective planning application from the public or Wrockwardine Parish Council.

However, the county council's planning department argued: "By virtue of the solid nature and height of the erected wooden fence, it has caused a detrimental harm to the character and appearance of the street scene."

The applicant has appealed the decision and a government planning inspector will now decide whether the garden fence can remain in place.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.