A quaint cobbled street has become an "eyesore" that is "totally oppressive and depressing," angry neighbours have said. Residents say their street has been ruined by a 2m fence put up near their properties.
A planning application had been submitted to retain a nearly 2m fence up put around the car park at the back of a nursery. Several objections had been received to the application by local residents unhappy with the fence.
According to a council report produced ahead of a planning meeting recently held in Knowsley, Liverpool, residents said it had made the street “dark and dreary”, had blocked light in the gardens of neighbouring properties and is “totally oppressive and depressing," The Echo reports.
Objectors also spoke of anger at not being allowed to use the car park, and its enclosure restricting the ability of vehicles to turn in the street, meaning cars were now having to reverse down the road, causing “dangerous” conditions for pedestrians and other road users. Responding to the concerns, the planning officer report stated that there was no right for local residents to park there as it was a private car park and “does not cause an unacceptable loss of light” to neighbouring properties.
The report stated that a condition that the fence be stained so that it is more in keeping with the surrounding area with officers concluding the fencing was “acceptable” and recommending approval. At the meeting, the applicant Mark Johnson spoke in support of the application. He said the fencing was “intended to provide heightened safety and security of a car park.”
He said there had been issues around dumping on the site in recent years, stating that local mechanics had also left vehicles and motor parts on the site. Mr Johnson said as well as providing security for users of the car park, it “would also help the safety and security of the local area.”
Local councillor Ian Smith said a retrospective application is “not always looked on kindly.” He said it “had always been an open car park” and was unaware it belonged to the nursery.
He also spoke of concerns about emergency services accessing the “narrow” road and said the applicant should “get your neighbours on board rather than it becoming an issue of confrontation.” Mr Johnson said the fence was erected “naively” without realising the need for planning permission before installing it. He said residents in the area were “quite transient” but made efforts to get on with neighbours.
He said it had become difficult for staff to park because of what was being dumped and said was more than happy to engage with local neighbours over use of the car park at the weekend.
But Councillor Smith said he believed the application “does compromise highways safety.” And another local councillor Allan Flute said the site has been a “hot spot” for fly-tipping and he welcomed the application.
Following a vote, the application was approved meaning the nursery’s fence can stay.
