Homeowners say they "feel threatened" by a council as a three-year battle over their garden fence rumbles on.

The occupants of a house on Highland Drive in Worlingham, near Beccles, have lodged an appeal after an enforcement notice was made by East Suffolk Council instructing them to reduce the height of their fence.

The row erupted after someone informed East Suffolk Council of the fence's height surpassing regulatory rules.

The permitted height of a fence in the area is strictly one metre.

It led to the council sending a letter to the occupants at Highland Drive, advising they reduce the height of the fence or file a planning application for the fence.

The occupants were also advised the planning application would likely be refused as it is taller than one metre.

In response said they wished to keep the fence for privacy.

They argue that due to the property's position at the end of the road, their privacy is exposed and their grandchildren visit and play in the garden regularly.

The council asserted that the appellant must file a planning application for the fence to be legally sound or reduce the fence to just one metre in height.

In October 2021 the council received a letter from the appellant's solicitor.

The letter explained their client removed the hedge and an existing fence and a “like for like” fence was placed there.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: The council vehemently object to the fenceThe council vehemently object to the fence (Image: Bruno Brown)

They also enclosed photographs of other fences located in the area as evidence.

Their letter read: “Presumably these neighbours have been written to in the same manner as our Clients.

"We would be grateful for you to confirm."

East Suffolk Council conducted yet another visit confirming the fence was still there and had not been reduced in height. 

An enforcement notice was then served.

The residents appealed by outlining their justifications for having the fence and also found the "correspondence from the council threatening". 

The outcome of the appeal is yet to be issued.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: A street view from Google Maps, taken in May 2009, shows how exposed the property wasA street view from Google Maps, taken in May 2009, shows how exposed the property was (Image: Google Maps)