Neighbour dispute over GARDEN DECKING forces council to intervene after accusation it breached privacy
A NEIGHBOUR dispute has forced a council to intervene after a bitter feud between neighbours has erupted over garden decking.
Mr and Mrs Walker have built decking in their home's garden in Hedon, Yorkshire which has resulted in a row with their next-door neighbour Simon Dobbs, who claims he feels his privacy has been invaded.
Eventually, the East Riding Council's Eastern Area Planning Sub-Committee allowed the decking to stay after visiting the property.
The pair who built the decking without planning permission told planning officers that it had no effect on trees screening their garden and they were not legally required to consult their neighbours, reported.
Documents from the Walkers seen by the outlet state that the two properties share a 4ft wall and that the gardens are at differing levels at different stages making each other's gardens visible.
There are also two substantial trees that offer a "level of privacy."
The Walkers added that their neighbours had never informed them before doing any projects in their own garden.
Mr Dobbs insisted that he and his wife no longer feel comfortable on their patio, at the house, they have lived since 2013.
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He said: "We want the privacy which once existed in our patio area to be restored.
"There's also no mention in the application of electrics being installed in the decking, they were removed before councillors visited but can easily be reinstalled.
"We don't want to feel uncomfortable, we want to enjoy the freedom we've always had in our garden."
Cllr John Dennis said: "Screening already exists and as far as noise goes that's something all properties have to deal with, we've all got neighbours."
Cllr Matt Rogers added that the dispute was evidence the neighbours were not getting along.
Committee member Cllr Barbara Jefferson said: "This is something that's been built without planning permission, it's something that affects someone.
"They don't have any way to come back and say they don't like it now, this happens so much and it's so wrong.
"But there's nothing we can do about it now, the applicants should be thinking lets try and make this as quiet and as not in your face as possible for their neighbours."
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Committee chair Cllr Sue Steel said: "I do sympathise with the neighbours but there will have to be concessions between the applicants and all adjoining properties.
"This application has been approved, let's hope the neighbourliness improves there as well."
