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Trowbridge Homeowner Seeks Approval To Keep Six-Foot Fence Built Without Permission

Wiltshire councillors will rule on a retrospective bid that pits street character against privacy and safety.

Overview

  • Homeowner Marcus Brown built a six-foot (1.8m) fence around his Trowbridge property without planning permission and has applied retrospectively to keep it.
  • A neighbour, James Sutherland, filed a formal objection saying the solid timber fence is a dark, prominent feature that clashes with Willow Grove’s open-plan look.
  • The applicant says the fence sits behind an existing boundary wall on his land and does not encroach on the road.
  • Supporters including Brian and Adrienne Hobday and a neighbour named Steve say clearing overgrown bushes opened the pavement, improved drivers’ view, and gave the family privacy.
  • Wiltshire Council has not yet decided the case, highlighting a common rule that front garden fences next to roads usually need permission if over one metre.