Neighbours taking the piss?

[LiteraryDevil]

My mum's neighbours that is. They have raised their decking by about a foot and erected scaffolding type fencing around. She's lost all her privacy as now on s level with her bedroom window and well above her garden. Do they need planning permission for this? I've tried to attach a photo.

Actually ignore my previous post, if they have raised their original decking by a foot surely that would take them into the planning permission bracket.

Ishouldnt yes it's in a hill and their house is higher up. There was no issue with the previous owners though so I have a feeling the decking is significantly raised from the garden level but can't tell from mums garden. The great big pole stands about 9ft from the decking though so surely that alone breaches. I've contacted the local council so will see if they get back to me.
Other neighbours aren't impressed either but they are the type that moan about everything. This really affects my mum though.

Excellent news! The council have visited the property and deemed that it needs planning permission. They have said any application for planning permission is likely to be refused as its not in keeping with the neighbourhood and infringes on my mum's privacy. They have been given one month to remove it. Yay! I just hope they don't give my mum any grief. I've asked the council to keep her completely out of things and they have agreed. I won't tell my mum anything until it's taken down so she doesn't have to pretend she doesn't know.

Great news! Fingers crossed they follow the council orders.

If they don't there'll be an enforcement order.

CF neighbours, your poor mum

That's a great outcome!

Great news!
Keep an eye on things though. If it's not removed within the month, keep on at the council.

I'm really pleased as my mum is so nice and would never dream of saying anything to them even though they are really annoying her.
The council responded in a few days from my email to actual going out to the house and telling them to take it down. Less than a week. I'm really impressed.
I'll definitely keep an eye. Mum will probably phone me to say " Guess what? Next door are taking down that bloody awful decking!"

I think from the letter they've got to take the whole structure down! They'll be fuming but serves them right.

The wording used was that if they didn't take it down with a month the council would "start official Enforcement proceedings"
I'm just so pleased they have taken this seriously. My mum is nearly 80 and should be able to enjoy sitting out in her garden or resting on her bed without the neighbours being able to see her.

Only just seen this, well done, great news.

👍🏻

Mum hasn't reported any action yet and I've not mentioned it to her. Can't wait for it to come down. They had visitors the other weekend who we're exclaiming how marvellous it all was

I am guessing the neighbours are just going to ignore the letter they received and will kick up a huge fuss when it is enforced. I look forward to your updates!

It will be down for the summer whatever happens, that's the main thing.

I would plant a few pyracantha along the fence. Also known as 'firehorn' it has lethal thorns on them and it will also shield against noise and light.

www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=431

Also as pps have said contact the local planning department and have a chat with them. It's intrusive, there's no doubt about that.

Sorry, forgot to read the updates.

Great news indeed! But I would still put some planting along there.

Mum asked today if I'd reported the neighbour because he wasn't chatty anymore. Well, I didn't report him, I reported the decking. So told her no I hadn't it's still up in all it's ugliness.

Are you keeping and eye to make sure they haven't put in for retrospective permission? How long until the deadline?

3 weeks I think. They were given a month. I'll email the council again to see if any retrospective application has been out in although the letter says any application would be recommended for refusal.

I've spoken to the council and they have agreed to remove it and put things back how they were which is further away from the dividing line and two steps down from the current height. Result!

It's currently being removed. The bloke has told my mum never to speak to him again. She had no idea why but now knows. He's not spoken to her for the past 2 months though so don't get it as only reported it a couple of weeks ago. Oh well, she knows he's in the wrong and she's not reported him, I have. And I'm glad she'll be able to have her privacy back.

It's all down and even mum's gardener has said how much better it looks now (loudly across the back fence do they could hear ).Other neighbours are pleased it's down so I'm really glad I reported it.

I'mgaze glad it's worked out ok for your Mum ..maybe the neighbour not speaking will be a blessing. Some neighbours are just fucking selfish.

My next door ones have been having what we call...gazebo wars. Since last year they have had four types of gazebo, a couple didn't stand up to the wind, one lasted a day as she didn't like it and now they have been building a wooden one.

Now it does look quite a decent one, but they have had problems with it so it's been being built then took down since last year. It looks like a fucking pyramid so we've christened it Giza. He climbs up there makes a fucking racket and it's still not finished.

It is right up to the 6ft fence and must tower 3 ft above...It's not like we actually want any sunlight in the garden

Glad she's got her privacy back (and not speaking to the neighbour is no loss). You were definitely right to complain - I came on the thread expecting it to be an over-reaction but that was ridiculous.