Shock as family finds views of hills are lost

9:30am Sunday 1st July 2012 in News

The fence in question The fence in question

WHEN Patricia Padian and her family bought their £280,000 house in Malvern they thought it came complete with views of the hills.

So they were horrified to arrive home one day to find their scenic views had been replaced by a two-and-a-half metre metal fence.

The family moved into their dream four-bedroom property in Hollybush Close,on the new Malvern Vale estate two years ago believing they were getting views out over Malvern and towards the hills. Mrs Padian claims she asked several times about the view when considering the house, and was assured she would look out over sports pitches and that there would be no fencing involved.

“I am absolutely livid,” she said. “We viewed this house four times and four times we were told there would be no fencing.

“I have a beautiful, glossy brochure showing what would be at the back of my house and now suddenly I have what can only be described as football stadium fencing right in front of my kitchen window.”

She said her next door neighbours also looked at her house and were told exactly same thing about its views.

But despite the assurances, plans for the fence were included when planning permission for the site was granted by Malvern Hills District Council in 2009.

Representatives from the council and Persimmon Homes have met Mrs Padian at her home to try to find a resolution.

Coun Tony Penn, portfolio holder for planning and housing, said: “One possible solution that we are discussing is for Persimmon Homes to enhance the landscaping by increasing the number of trees along the boundary so as to lessen the visual impact of the fence.

“We understand Mrs Padian’s concerns and we very much hope that we can help both parties to find a solution through our discussions, which are still ongoing.”

Richard Oldroyd, managing director at Persimmon Homes South Midlands, said: “Persimmon Homes acknowledges the resident’s concerns and is currently working with the local planning authority to establish a suitable solution.”

Comments(26)

keeneye says...
9:42am Sun 1 Jul 12

There will be no solution for Patricia Padian. The planing departemnt will pander to the developer as they have in Worcester on many occasions - the latest being the big Yellow building in St Johns, I understand and sympathise with Patricia - she will be doubly disappointed with the responce from the parties she is dealing with, unless she accepts cash - the fence will be here to stay.

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CJH says...
9:54am Sun 1 Jul 12

What cash?

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daned says...
11:35am Sun 1 Jul 12

Perhaps the report could have told us why such a high fence was needed in the first place. What will be going on the other side of the fence? If it is a sports field surely wire netting would have been sufficient.

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nikijc says...
2:10pm Sun 1 Jul 12

If it's her house and her fence can't she just get rid of the fence or make it lower?

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Maggie Would says...
2:12pm Sun 1 Jul 12

keeneye wrote:
There will be no solution for Patricia Padian. The planing departemnt will pander to the developer as they have in Worcester on many occasions - the latest being the big Yellow building in St Johns, I understand and sympathise with Patricia - she will be doubly disappointed with the responce from the parties she is dealing with, unless she accepts cash - the fence will be here to stay.
It's not in Worcester, it's in Malvern. Different council, different planners.
The planning application from 2009 will have been on MHDC's website for prospective purchasers to see. Solicitors' serches won't throw up something like this, it's the purchaser's responsibility to check. Caveat Emptor - buyer beware.

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Maggie Would says...
2:13pm Sun 1 Jul 12

nikijc wrote:
If it's her house and her fence can't she just get rid of the fence or make it lower?
It's not her fence. The close boarded one in front is hers. The metal one behind is the one that they are objecting to. The see-through one.

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CJH says...
2:18pm Sun 1 Jul 12

nikijc wrote:
If it's her house and her fence can't she just get rid of the fence or make it lower?
The wooden fence is hers - it's the metal fence on the other side she's objecting to. I see they have planted trees in their garden. These will grow and obscure part of the view anyway won't they? The metal fence doesn't actually block out the view (which would be limited from downstairs anyway with their existing fence), but it is a pretty ugly thing to have sticking up over your property.

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CJH says...
2:20pm Sun 1 Jul 12

keeneye wrote:
There will be no solution for Patricia Padian. The planing departemnt will pander to the developer as they have in Worcester on many occasions - the latest being the big Yellow building in St Johns, I understand and sympathise with Patricia - she will be doubly disappointed with the responce from the parties she is dealing with, unless she accepts cash - the fence will be here to stay.
Keeneye, can you explain what cash could she accept please?

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CJH says...
2:21pm Sun 1 Jul 12

Maggie Would wrote:
nikijc wrote: If it's her house and her fence can't she just get rid of the fence or make it lower?
It's not her fence. The close boarded one in front is hers. The metal one behind is the one that they are objecting to. The see-through one.
Oops - great minds Maggie...

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worcester86 says...
3:04pm Sun 1 Jul 12

You can't see the hills behind the fence.. so doesn't really make any difference.. looking out of your upstairs window wouldn't be affected by the fence either.

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onelifeliveit says...
3:24pm Sun 1 Jul 12

If they get rid of the fence they could have free footballs for life !

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moonpig says...
4:32pm Sun 1 Jul 12

If the wire fence wasn't there I wonder how long it would be before they were moaning about the balls coming over into their garden? I can't see how it can be obscuring their view any more than the existing fence and the 2 trees they have planted are going to be huge in a few years. Seems like someone has spotted a way to try and get some compensation.

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CJH says...
5:12pm Sun 1 Jul 12

Hold on, something's missing from the photo isn't there? Where is grumpy person with arms folded? Disappointing WN!

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onelifeliveit says...
6:44pm Sun 1 Jul 12

grumpy person on a step ladder looking at the view of the hills I would hope!

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worcswolf says...
9:23am Mon 2 Jul 12

if it was me i would just put windows in the fence panels still have security but with the view anyone out their want to invent toughened plastic fence panels for fencing with a view.

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Maggie Would says...
9:28am Mon 2 Jul 12

worcswolf wrote:
if it was me i would just put windows in the fence panels still have security but with the view anyone out their want to invent toughened plastic fence panels for fencing with a view.
They already exist, worcswolf - just look at the Plexiglass screens around ice hockey rinks. Jolly expensive they are, too.

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CJH says...
9:29am Mon 2 Jul 12

worcswolf wrote:
if it was me i would just put windows in the fence panels still have security but with the view anyone out their want to invent toughened plastic fence panels for fencing with a view.
...and people would be able to look into your garden and invade your privacy! Funny though - it's good to start a Monday morning by being silly :-)

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jovialcommonsense says...
10:43am Mon 2 Jul 12

CJH wrote:
worcswolf wrote:
if it was me i would just put windows in the fence panels still have security but with the view anyone out their want to invent toughened plastic fence panels for fencing with a view.
...and people would be able to look into your garden and invade your privacy! Funny though - it's good to start a Monday morning by being silly :-)
Curtains!

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ushmush says...
10:50am Mon 2 Jul 12

Is this for real? Mrs Padian needs to get a grip!

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Marant says...
11:00am Mon 2 Jul 12

I was always told that you don't own the view. If you like the view so much and want to keep it, then the only way is to buy the land up to the horizon. There was a case recently where someone had their council tax reduced using this argument. The local authority had revalued their house for council tax and he'd been informed that the view added value to the property and this had pushed them into a new tax bracket. He argued that he didn't own the view and if something was built that ruined it, would he then get a tax reduction, managed to have his home put back down a tax band.

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GroovyChick says...
12:00pm Mon 2 Jul 12

Has anyone missed the point that she has got a bit of added free security - I wouldn't mind a bit of that!

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Vox populi says...
1:29pm Mon 2 Jul 12

Is the lady in question from the Amazon basin area?

As far as I can tell the standard fence must be 6 foot anyway so if she can see the hills from her garden its only the top of them

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JaxiB66 says...
4:14pm Mon 2 Jul 12

Well, yes, it's an ugly metal fence and anyone would be pretty angry at it being plonked outside their house and garden - but her wooden fence looks pretty high - I can't see any sign of the hills above it anyway.

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Flomay says...
12:27pm Thu 5 Jul 12

I'd be more fed up with a load of balls landing in my garden... unless there were some hunky guys asking to have them back :P

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lizzie_worcester says...
4:53pm Fri 6 Jul 12

surely if spending this amount of money it may have been sensible to view the deposited plans before agreeing the sale? never take salesmans word! Also its fairly transparent so surely the hills can still be seen??

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Butties says...
4:53pm Fri 6 Jul 12

she could try a periscope.

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