A LEAFY street is in uproar over an eight-foot prison-like privacy fence.
The soon-to-be “eyesore” structure will be erected around playing fields that everyone in the sleepy Ridge area of Lancaster uses.
Objectors have branded the plans, that would boarder Central Lancaster High School, “monstrous” as they stop people using the space outside of school hours.
One Ridge resident, who has used the green area with her family for 65 years, said her daily visits will be halted if the fence is approved as it would deny entrance to anyone who isn’t a pupil.
Lifelong local Gillian Bell added there have never been any problems with allowing the area to be accessed by the public once students have gone home.
She told Lancaster Guardian: “It’s important to the old and young for play, health and mental health. It’s also a corridor for wildlife.
“The community keep the land clean and safe. Litter picking events are regular and dubious activity gets reported.”
Submitted plans suggest the fence is for safe-guarding – but this fumed locals even more.
William Statham slammed the reason behind wanting it as “hypocritical”.
He added: “The so-called ‘safeguarding fence’, if it prevented access at all times, would be hypocritical to its implied intentions, being of significant detriment to local children and young people.”
Anne Chapman also questioned: “Where is the evidence that any child had been harmed by the public having access to playing fields?”
Homeowners in the area are now urging councillors to discuss the proposal at a planning committee so Bay Learning Trust, which runs the school, can answer their questions.
The Sun has contacted Bay Learning Trust and Central Lancaster High School for comment.
IF a planning application has been submitted in your local area that you believe could personally impact you or the surrounding grounds, you can lodge a complaint.
According to the Planning Portal, in some cases you can complain directly to the Local Government Ombudsman.
If you are a neighbour affected by a local authority’s planning decision, the Ombudsman may consider your complaint. But only if there was administrative fault in the way the authority handled the matter.
The Ombudsman cannot investigate a complaint just because you do not agree with the decision.
The Ombudsman has no power to alter the decision, even if the local authority administration has not been entirely correct.
However, in cases where the Ombudsman decides that the local authority has acted incorrectly in handling a planning matter, the Ombudsman can recommend that the authority take action to mitigate the effect on you, and pay you compensation, if appropriate.
