Residents of apartment complex Goldington House in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, have objected to the erection of 1.8m high fence by their neighbour
Image: Gloucestershire Live / BPM Media)
A flat owner has erected a “sheep pen” fence outside leaving her neighbours outraged.
The apartment complex in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, is split into four flats and has a divvied up outdoor garden area.
The 1.8m high fence has been labelled an eyesore by angry fellow residents of Goldington House, a Victorian building in Evesham Road.
As a result of the new addition, and a shed, the communal bin store has had to be moved creating further inconvenience, reports Gloucestershire Live.
Alice Reeve, who has lived in the complex with her elderly mum, Annie, for 35 years, said the ongoing feud has caused much distress.
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Image:
Gloucestershire Live / BPM Media)
She described it as a “beautiful” property of interest with views out onto Pittville Park.
She said: “It’s always been the case that the flats share the garden at the back.
“It’s always worked over the years – it’s a very open space.”
Alice said Sarah Daly, the resident responsible for the fence, had moved in around five years ago and immediately made her intentions to have increased privacy clear.
“Over lockdown I analysed it and thought, this isn’t going to work. It’s such a beautiful property and I knew it wasn’t going to work,” she continued.
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Gloucestershire Live / BPM Media)
“She wants privacy but that’s absolutely ridiculous. I can look out of my bedroom window and see into ‘her garden’.
“I could also just look over the fence, so it doesn’t give her any privacy, really.”
According to Alice, the ordeal has equally affected the other residents of Goldington House.
Alice said: “It’s the poor neighbours that I feel sorry for.
“Their kitchen window now looks out onto the fence. The basement flat also now just has a view of the fence.
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Gloucestershire Live / BPM Media)
“I’ve heard people call it a depressing eyesore, a sheep pen and that sort of thing.
“It is absolutely horrendous and all the neighbours have screamed about it.”
On the planning application submitted to Cheltenham Borough Council, the three other flats in the building objected to Ms Daly’s proposal to erect the fence.
The proposal was titled ‘the erection of a 1.8m wooden closeboard fence to create a secure and private garden as per the block plan’.
In the comments, one resident has said they were “staggered” that the owner planned to go ahead with the project.
Another said the fence would be “an absolute eyesore”, citing the fact the building is a key part of the conservation area.
“Such a fence detracts from the open gardens layout encouraged to be in character with a Victorian house,” they added.
Ms Daly also filed an application for the erection of a garden shed, which Alice described as “the final straw” and, once again, the three other residents unanimously objected to the plans.
Alice said although their objection to the shed and the consequent moving of the bins may seem petty, it will cause inconvenience to the residents.
She said: “The drive is so long, and the food bins are heavy.
“At the end of the day we just want to get it out and it’s a part of every day life.”
Alice’s mum, Annie, has been equally shocked and ‘disappointed’ by the saga.
She said: “I am so disappointed in her – that’s how I feel.
“She can actually do this to vulnerable people.
“To me I think there’s greed attached to it all. I’ve called it a sheep pen!
“I’ve lived here for 35 years and things like this just don’t happen. It’s a bit of a shock.”
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