Totton resident Phil Edwicker, 50, of Itchin Close, is determined to maintain his treasured boundary barrier after neighbour Tim Goodman complained to Hampshire County Council.
Mr Goodman reported the self-build fence, which is full with LED lights and stainless-steel wires, when Mr Edwicker utilized efficiently for permission in 2023 to increase his dwelling.
Now Mr Edwicker has eliminated a few of the fence after being given a deadline of March 11 to take action as county council bosses say it encroaches on the general public freeway.
But he instructed the Echo he’ll proceed to battle the choice and had eliminated three posts on a “temporary basis”.
Mr Edwicker mentioned present fence, put in throughout Covid, replaces one he first put up in 2002, and accepted he didn’t apply for planning permission, claiming it’s on his property and that his neighbours are tremendous with it.
Mr Edwicker, who’s the managing director of a carry firm, mentioned: “It’s of no risk to anyone, the only person it would effect would be my immediate neighbour, and she has no problem with it.”
“As far as I’m involved, I put the fence up on my land.
“It was solely grass earlier than I put this in.
“Hampshire Highways Authority haven’t proved to me it’s their land, it’s just their word against mine.”
Mr Edwicker mentioned the fence is a ardour of his, and he had put in “a lot of effort and love into it”.
He added: “I put a variety of ardour and lots of hours into designing this fence.
“I’ve spent so many hours and a lot cash making this, I wash it such as you would a automotive.”
Mr Edwicker mentioned a planning officer from New Forest District Council signed off on the fence in 2023 once they got here to overview the primary flooring aspect addition and single-storey rear extension at his home.
He added: “I could understand if it was poking out into a path, but it is not even a throughway, there’s no cut through, but the council say it’s because it’s on a path.”
He mentioned he’ll now should take away three posts, successfully halving the fence, and must redesign the remainder of the fence to suit the wires again in, costing him more cash.
He mentioned: “It’s soul-destroying after all the effort I’ve put into it.”
In his 2023 objection, neighbour Mr Goodman mentioned he had no downside with the extension, however opposed the fence.
He mentioned: “I don’t object to the proposed constructing extension, however I do object to the at present illegal fence.
“This must be removed.”
Mr Goodman added: “The resident involved would higher serve himself if he reinstated the Highway verge again to public use, eliminated a small a part of the garden and barely prolonged the block paving.
“He could then still lawfully utilise part of the fence to prevent vehicles damaging his lawn.”
Mr Edwicker mentioned he has had the assist of nearly all of his neighbours, a few of whom instructed the Echo they had been annoyed with the council resolution.
He mentioned when he wrote to Julian Lewis, MP for New Forest East, the remainder of his neighbours all signed the letter in assist.
The county council instructed the Echo it has an obligation to make sure public highways are secure and accessible and does perceive that “it is a irritating scenario for residents, particularly the place work has concerned time and expense”.
A spokesperson mentioned: “Following an enquiry from a member of the general public, we’ve contacted residents in Itchin Close after confirming that a part of a fence has been constructed on land that varieties a part of the general public freeway.
“We have shared the data used to ascertain that boundary with the affected residents.
“Keeping the general public freeway unobstructed is vital, as even small adjustments can have an effect on entry and security for individuals utilizing the verge or footway.”
