Resident, 86, threatens to chain herself to 1ft-high picket fence in ‘petty’ council row

Residents in their 80s are threatening to chain themselves to their 1ft picket fence after being ordered to remove it by the council.

The knee-high fencing surrounds a communal garden of 31 flats at the retirement housing complex Helgate Court in Norwich, Norfolk. The properties are mobility aid and wheelchair adapted and have a Careline alarm service.

Julian Philips, 80, erected it to add some character to the space and to prevent cars from driving over the flower garden.

While doing so, he painstakingly dug up the existing ‘mud field’ to lay down grass and plant new flowers, which took two weeks.

Now, however, he and other residents have been left furious, as ‘petty’ housing group Orbit has given them seven days to take the low fence down.

‘I’ll be annoyed if it is removed because I don’t want people driving over the garden again,’ said Mr Philips. ‘The fence is here to protect it.’

He added: ‘Everyone who lives in the flats here has said they are happy with how the garden looks now and have expressed how much better it is.’

Having been warned that the fence is a ‘trip hazard’, he insisted that ‘not one person has complained’ about it being in the way.

‘I have done what I thought was necessary, and it has been a success.’

Mr Philips revealed details of the letter he received from Orbit, which raised concerns over ‘safety’ and the ‘quality of workmanship’ in the fence. It also claimed the fence ‘does not meet the required specifications and standards’.

Further criticising Orbit for its demand, fellow resident Pauline Taylor, 86, said she feels ‘really sad’, praising the transformation into a ‘beautiful space’.

Hailing her neighbour’s work on the fence as ‘brilliant’, she added: ‘The transformation of the garden just makes it feel like home again.

‘Orbit really is not thinking of our well-being because before Julian created this garden, it looked horrible and was just full of mud.’

She then stated, defiantly: ‘I’ll chain myself to it – that’s what I’ll do.’

In response to the outrage, a spokesperson for Orbit said: ‘We completely understand how much customers value their homes and the outdoor spaces around them, and we were really pleased to support customers at Helgate Court recently by providing turf for a garden area, which our own team laid for them.

‘This concern relates to a separate fence and an extension to that area, which were added without the agreement of other customers and which reach into one of the parking spaces.

‘Helgate Court has 31 homes and only six parking spaces, so every space matters, and several customers told us they were worried about the fence when parking, as well as the safety of neighbours who use walking aids or mobility scooters.’

It vowed to ‘find a solution’ in collaboration with the angry residents, allowing the existing garden, including the turf and flowers, to remain.

And, indeed, while the fence was originally ordered to be removed by July 10, at the time of writing, its removal has been delayed to see whether residents will agree to a ‘safe alternative for the area’.

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