Alison says the fence has ‘ruined’ their garden. (Image: Andrew Croft/Solent News & Photo Agency)
A disgruntled couple from Hampshire have likened their garden to “Colditz” – best known for Colditz Castle which was a prisoner of war camp during World War 2 – after their new neighbour put up a whopping three-metre fence with spikes on top around her property.
Just two months after moving in, the “privacy” fence was erected, with Alison and Ian Lawrence claiming it has “ruined” their garden after recently spending £20,000 on landscape. The couple say the “hideous” structure was put up around Deborah Olthof’s home without permission.
After putting in a retrospective application, the local authority has allowed real estate managing director Ms Olthof to keep the fence. However, Ms Lawerence, 58 and her husband, 71, have slammed the council in New Milton, Hampshire, for showing “no regard to the detriment of our property”.
They said Ms Olthof had “grossly heightened” the original fence in the rear garden after moving into her £640,000 four bed home in April 2024. The furious couple next door have claimed the fence spans three-metres high which is causing “major problems” as it “overshadows the garden”.
:
Alison Lawrence in front of the giant fence. (Image: Andrew Croft/Solent News & Photo Agency)
The spikes on top of Ms Olthof’s fence. (Image: Andrew Croft/Solent News & Photo Agency)
Ms Lawrence said: “It’s ruined our property.
“If we wanted to sell our property, I don’t know of anybody that would want to buy it seeing that fence like that.”
On top of the fence, a lining of small plastic spikes often used for ‘pest control’ was also added.
Mrs Lawrence said the fence is “so high” they can’t manage the guttering on the house as they are unable to get a ladder in the narrow gap between their roof and the fence.
In October, Ms Olthof sought retrospective planning permission to keep the fence which was granted by New Forest District Council in November. Mrs Lawrence said this was despite the local New Milton authority writing a letter of objection to the authority saying the fence is “unsightly, unneighbourly and over dominant”.
Ms Lawerence said: “There’s no regard to our objections at all and they were within all the guidelines,
“I can’t believe that anybody would approve a fence of that magnitude – it’s hideous.
“They just allowed it to go through.”
She added: “It’s a mix of Colditz and like we’re living by the motorway – we’re completely penned out.” Colditz is a former royal residence in Germany that became a prisoner-of-war camp during World War 2.
Alison Lawrence, 58. (Image: Andrew Croft/Solent News & Photo Agency)
:
Ms Lawrence has said she will take the matters “as far as [she] can go”, with the homeowners also complaining about the fence installed in front of the property. They have said it’s a “hazard” for them when reversing onto their busy road due to the structure making it difficult for them to see approaching traffic.
The couple are now set to report the issue to the Government ombudsman after feeling completely ignored by the council.
Ms Olthof has said she does have planning permission for the fence and said the council were satisfied with all aspects of it, including the height. She noted that her house is on a higher plot – which was taken into consideration by the council.
New Forest District Council said: “The design and impact of the fence on the area and neighbours were carefully assessed.
“Complaints will be handled by the development management service manager as per our corporate complaints procedure, details of which are on our website.
“There is no right of appeal against this planning decision.
“If the neighbour remains dissatisfied after our complaint process, the matter could be referred to the Local Government Ombudsman.”