Council acts to remove unauthorised fence
The Council has taken action following an initial investigation regarding unauthorised fencing that had been attached on top of a boundary wall situated within the Old Bursledon Conservation Area.
After unsuccessful attempts by the Council to have the unauthorised fencing removed by the owners of the property they submitted a retrospective application in May 2019. This application was refused in September 2019 and a subsequent appeal made against this decision in December 2019 was turned away by the Planning Inspector as it had been made out of time.
The case was put on hold during 2020 due to the Covid pandemic and resumed in 2021. An Enforcement Notice was served on the homeowners in June 2021 requesting the removal of the fencing. This notice was subsequently appealed and dismissed by the Planning Inspector in November 2021 with the applicant given a period of three months given to comply.
The Council carried out a compliance check in February 2022 that confirmed that the fencing had been removed in accordance with the enforcement notice.
Conservation areas are places of environmental quality and interest. They exist to protect the special architectural and historic interest of a place with features that make it unique and distinctive.
Additional planning restrictions apply within these areas to ensure that special regard is paid to preserving and enhancing their character or appearance.
Chair of Bursledon, Hamble & Hound Area Committee Cllr Tonia Craig said, “We take the protection of Old Bursledon Conservation Area very seriously as we do with all our protected areas. This decision sends a very strong message that we will not hesitate to take effective enforcement to protect its unique character.”