A family in Chepstow has been instructed to take down a wooden fence that was erected earlier this year. The fence, standing at a height of 1.98m, was built without proper authorization and now must be removed.
Sophie Daly, the homeowner, had applied to keep the fence as she believed it provided added safety and security for her child and dog. She argued that the fence offered better protection from noise and pollution compared to the previous hedge.
Despite receiving support from one neighbor, the local planning committee decided against allowing the fence to remain. They expressed concerns that the structure detracted from the visual appeal of the area and did not align with the town’s character.
The council also highlighted the lack of ecological mitigation measures in Daly’s proposal, such as the removal of a hedge without adequate compensation. The application suggested installing a bird box and a “bug hotel” in the front garden, but this was deemed insufficient by the committee.
The decision to reject the retention of the fence was made to preserve the town’s aesthetics and prevent setting a negative precedent for future developments in Chepstow.
