We live on a turning circle and requested permission to extend our access to our driveway from the Highways department which was granted. Difficulty was a water stop tap which advised by the water company would restrict the kerb being dropped. We took out the hedge which was about 12 feet high and an old broken wooden fence that served as a 'boundary wall'. We built a new wall (below one metre) with eight pillars, the tallest being 1.59metres, with the intention of having short railings in between. We also, (stupidly not realising we needing further permission) left an opening of 4 metres as a new access point. We contacted Highways to let them know we had changed the access only to be told we were not allowed an in out drive and they were reporting us for not getting planning permission for the wall. We stopped all building work immediately.The Highways objection was the amount of visibility available which was ludicrous because both us and neighbours have a much better view of the road than when the hedge was there. We have applied for planning permission for the wall only to be advised to take down the pillars which will cost a fortune as the wall will have to be rebuilt. My difficulty is this, there are seven in out drives in our small road which is unclassified and every house apart from 2 have walls higher than one metre, none have applied for and been granted planning permission. We have a half built wall with a garden that looks like a building site. We really believe this guy from Highways department took umbrage with us because we requested a site visit to discuss our options (which he failed to do). Can anyone make any suggestions or advise on how we could progress without taking this wall down.
Many thanks for taking the time to read this.
