Parents ‘daren’t let kids play out’ due to knee rail near road
A fence row has erupted on a new-build estate after residents raised concerns over a fence height that separates homes from a busy Stockton[1] road.
For the last few months, residents at the front of Taylor Wimpey's new Hartburn Grange development, off Yarm[2] Back Lane, have been separated from the nearby Elton Interchange by a 1.8m fence. This was put up as a "temporary measure" by the developer to provide a visual barrier while roadworks were ongoing.
However, residents have been left furious after the developer took down the fence and replaced it with a 450mm tall knee rail, as was previously set out in plans for the estate. Parents say they now "daren't let kids play out"[3] because of the height of the new fence and its closeness to the road - and have also raised issues over privacy in their homes.
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A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson said the fence was always due to be replaced with a permanent knee rail fence once work on the nearby interchange came to an end. The developer said the size and location of the fence were approved by Stockton Council[6] when permission for the site was granted.
Becci Still, who moved into her home in December last year, claims that she only found out the knee rail would be installed after she had already paid the 5% deposit on her home and signed all the documents, The 35-year-old - who has three children aged nine, six, and six months - raised concerns over safety with the developer as a result.
![What the fence looks like from the roadworks]()
What the fence looks like from the roadworks (Image: UGC Becci Still)
However, Taylor Wimpey said that residents were informed at purchase that the current 1.8m boarded fence was just a temporary measure to provide a visual barrier.
Last Monday, Becci received an email saying the fence would be coming down and would be replaced with a smaller fence. The Stockton mum added that there were other issues on the estate, such as the roads, which she is able to "overlook" - however, she insisted that the "safety of our children is imperative."
Becci posted on Facebook[7] to rally support as she tried to get the developer to keep the higher fence. She said: "What is stopping a car from hitting them if it loses control? What is stopping any road sense leaving their brains to chase after their favorite ball that's just rolled into this busy road!? Have you met my real-life Spider-man son?"
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Becci's neighbour Sophie, who also is unhappy with the changes, said the properties are "so close to the road" that it presents a safety issue for kids playing out on the estate. The 26-year-old, who moved into her home with her five-year-old son in March, said she is fearful that a car could come off the road and in the direction of kids playing on the estate.
She explained: "There is no privacy now too. People are looking in the windows when they stop at the traffic lights - before they couldn't see through because of the fence. I'm not going to let my son play out on the front until that fence is put back up - I daren't!"
Gordo, who also lives on the front and has five grandchildren, said the area in front of the homes is "too open" and claimed that he was told by the developer that trees and bushes would be put behind the fence to bridge the gap between the road and the properties on the front.
He explained: "The people next door have got children and they play out and when mine come they play out too. It will be a problem in the summer months. They need a metal rail on the side of the road really."
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Taylor Wimpey said a new hedge is due to be planted behind the knee rail fence. A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear that some of our customers are unhappy with the upcoming replacement of the fences at Hartburn[13] Grange and would like to assure them that the safety of residents is our priority.
“The current fence was installed as a temporary measure to provide privacy to residents while construction work on the new Elton[14] interchange was taking place. Now that construction has ended, we will be installing the permanent fencing in line with the planning permission that we received for the development.”
References
- ^ Stockton (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Yarm (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ "daren't let kids play out" (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ 'Wild' weather sweeps through Teesside causing chaos, huge waves and heavy rain (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Neighbours describe 'flashing cameras and white suits' as police investigate woman's unexplained death (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Stockton Council (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Facebook (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ click this link and select 'Join Community (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ Teesside Live (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ can read our Privacy Notice (www.reachplc.com)
- ^ Click here to join our WhatsApp community (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ go here (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Hartburn (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Elton (www.gazettelive.co.uk)