The fence blocked out the entire view and 90% of the daylight
A huge fence installed right across the living room window of a new-build house has been taken down and replaced after being abused online and mocked by neighbours. Large wooden panels completely obscured the view from inside after being placed just centimetres away from the house in Bristol by the council.
But after it was mocked by neighbours and people online, the wooden panels have been taken down and replaced with black metal railings. Construction workers were seen putting it up this week at the currently unoccupied home in Lockleaze.
Bristol City Council confirmed it owns the property and said the fence was initially installed due to a “significant drop” between the driveway and the side of the house. A worker said: “Obviously the fence did look hideous and blocked 90 per cent of the sunlight going in.
“I think because of the views it had online, it was just decided that it needed to come down and something else put back in its place. All I know is that it was asked to be taken down.”
It is understood the wooden fence, which was put up in May, was installed to protect and separate the house from a parking area. But thousands took to social media to mock the fence on a local community page.
One wrote: “Oh my goodness that is beyond stupid!” Another said: “This is ridiculous, surely the person who put that up must have questioned it? They must have some common sense.”
Another said: “I would pull that right down. It sounds like daylight robbery to me!”
It is understood that the house has been empty for seven months but Bristol City Council is now in the process of purchasing it and renovating the property. One neighbour said the previous fence was “stupid”.
He said: “I can’t work it out and I’m a builder. It blocks the windows out. I think everyone is confused.”
Some residents thought the installation was intended to prevent children falling in the gap between the car parking area and front of the house. “I heard something about it being a danger to the children because there is a bit of a drop or something,” the neighbour said. Another neighbour said they thought the fence was installed because of the “drop”, adding it was “health and safety gone a bit mad”.
They said: “I think it looked ridiculous. Whoever decided to do that, why? I just thought it was a bit silly and obviously common sense should come in at some point.”
Another resident said: “I just wondered if that was intentional. I don’t know who built it but I remember thinking ‘that is a bit strange’.”
Another neighbour said they thought the new metal railing looked “much better”. He said: “I mean if there are new people in the house, they wouldn’t be able to look out at anything would they? With that wood in front? No, this is much better.”
A spokesperson for Bristol City Council said: “We can confirm the property is owned by Bristol City Council. The fence was initially installed due to the significant drop between the drive and the side of the house – a barrier was therefore required for health and safety reasons.
“The fence was replaced with the black railings to reduce the visual impact on residents.”
