‘It’s the great wall’, locals say after council orders 8ft fence be torn down despite being built to keep drugs out
LOCALS have been left fuming after an 8ft fence built to keep drugs out and dubbed “the great wall of Colchester” was ordered to be torn down.
Disgruntled residents are unhappy that a neighbour who built the crime fighting fence to battle anti-social behaviour and drugs must scrap it.
The wooden fence was built at the entrance of a newbuild estate between John Castle Way and Bourne Court in Colchester, Essex, just outside Colchester City Centre.
A retrospective planning application was submitted to Colchester City Council, which has now been refused by planning bosses, but with conditions that residents explore alternative options, such as CCTV.
Colchester Council’s planning committee met on January 25 to discuss the issue of the fence and has since ordered the knocking down of the massive wall within six months.
Prior to it being discussed by councillors, chairman Mike Lilley jokingly gave the fence the nickname of the “Great Wall of Colchester”.
But neighbours want the £2k fence to stay and claim it has stopped vandalism and anti-social problems including open drug usage.
One young mother told MailOnline: “The situation was just getting worse and worse – these people were even sitting on my car and openly doing drugs – smoking pipes and things.
“We all agreed that a fence was the answer so we talked to the agents who manage the place and they used £2,500 to put up the barrier.
“It’s been wonderful ever since. The problem literally stopped overnight – and it means we have got our lovely little community back – it’s like heaven.”
School caretaker Tim Everett and his wife Jayne who live in the new development are disappointed at the lack of action take to clean up the problems of the drug users and suppliers.
Tim, a former builder who moved into the area because it was peaceful, said that “everyone who lives here was in favour of the wall”.
Other annoyed residents previously reported “used needles” being left in the middle of the road and slashed tyres.
One local said they had experienced stones being thrown at their premises, bollards being knocked over and routinely had to call the police.
Speaking to EssexLive, they said: “Over the years I have had £950 worth of damage where stones have been thrown at my property.
“I have had bollards knocked over and drug dealers slash my tyres when I have told them to leave the area.
“Since the erection of the fence we have had zero issues. I do not live in fear, my family do not live in fear and no-one else in the road lives in fear.”
The council committee was told by a planning officer that closing off the pedestrian route would lead to “demonstrable harm caused by the loss of an accessible link and route that helps provide and promote active and sustainable modes of transport“.
Nearby resident Jennifer Radford, 77, said: “There was often police activity in that area. One of the problems was that there was not enough CCTV or street lights.”
‘NIGHTMARE’
City and county councillor Dave Harris, who has taken up the case for the residents, said: “I have had many complaints about anti-social behaviour and abuse as well as damage to cars and property.
“This is a lovely little estate but it had become a nightmare for people living here. The path was used by the dealers and their customers and there was a lot of associated problems such as damage to cars, windows being smashed and shouting and screaming.
“The management company suggested putting up a fence to block the path and the residents were happy with that.
“It was put up with council advice but now suddenly the people there have been told that it must come down – and they will have to find another way to protect themselves.”
Colchester City Council initially supported the wall but are now insisting it will have to come down.
A council spokesman said: “We request the applicant’s co-operation in removing the fencing following the Planning Committee’s decision to refuse the application.
“If they do not appeal, or if their appeal is subsequently dismissed, and they fail to cooperate in removing the fencing within a reasonable time-frame, we will be forced to employ statutory enforcement powers.”
However a spokesman for Boydens, the Colchester agents who manage the estate said: “We sought and received written confirmation from the Principal Planning Officer of Colchester Borough Council that no permission would be needed to install the fence and so this was carried out on our clients instruction.”