KERESLEY residents are pleading to a housing developer to take down ‘ugly’ high fences which are making them feel like ‘animals in a zoo’.
Dog walkers, the elderly and parish councillors were dismayed to see imposing fences go up around land off Tamworth Road, Keresley.
Campaigners say the fences are not needed as people cannot access the field anyway, while an unimpeded view of the fields has been there for more than 50 years from many residents’ houses.
Developers Taylor Wimpey met with Keresley parish councillors to discuss residents’ concerns in a meeting this month.
A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey said: “We were made aware of concerns about the height of the fencing along one side of our site off Tamworth Road, Keresley.
“We were happy to discuss the possibility of using lower fencing, which is currently being explored.”
But residents are calling for more and have demanded the fences be taken down to preserve the view and leave the wildlife uninterrupted.
Taylor Wimpey purchased the site from a private landowner in March.
A spokesperson added: “Fencing was put up along the site boundary adjacent to the rear of properties fronting Bennetts Road South in order to secure the site following completion of the purchase.
“The remaining boundaries are bordered by thick hedgerows and gates.”
Parish councillor and Keresley resident of more than 50 years, Sandra Camwell, attended the meeting with Taylor Wimpey representatives.
She said: “It would be an advantage to remove the fences as Taylor Wimpey admitted no-one could get onto the land and seeing as the other hedges stop folk intruding onto the fields, what was the point in putting up these ugly looking fences?”
Ms Camwell said she was concerned that the developer, to date, has no planning permission.
She added: “The fence must be six feet six inches as it towers over a normal fence.
“As we have lived up here a lifetime, to suddenly look out of one’s windows and see the monster fence makes you feel as though you are a caged animal in a zoo.
“Developers are a law unto themselves, with netting the hedges as well as erecting fences.
“It is a pity that the government does not insist certain measures to stop these people doing just what they want.”
