A family in Chepstow has been instructed to remove a two-metre tall fence from their front garden after a planning dispute. Sophie Daly installed the timber fence last year along St Lawrence Road, citing privacy and safety concerns. She claimed the fence was necessary to protect her children and dog and to replace a hedge that had accumulated litter and dangerous items like needles.
Council Rejection and Appeal
Monmouthshire County Council deemed the fence too high and ordered its removal. Ms Daly appealed to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), arguing that without the fence, her children could not play outside safely and her dog could not be exercised securely. She contended that the council failed to properly consider her case.
Independent planning inspector G Hall dismissed the appeal, upholding the council's decision. While acknowledging support from medical and education professionals for Ms Daly's circumstances, the inspector ruled the fence visually unacceptable.
Inspector's Findings
The inspector's report stated: "There is no substantive evidence before me to indicate that the appellant's objectives in respect of safety and security could not be achieved through alternative boundary treatments or other measures that would be less visually intrusive and more consistent with the prevailing character of the area."
The fence was described as "visually dominant and incongruous in the street scene, eroding the established character of this gateway approach" to Chepstow. The inspector concluded that painting the fence would not alter this judgment.
Final Decision
Despite attaching "significant weight" to Ms Daly's personal circumstances, the inspector determined they did not outweigh the conflict with development plan and national policy. The appeal was dismissed as proportionate and necessary.
