Wiggenhall St Germans residents are divided over School Lane fence which restricts access to memorial hall car park
The issue has divided a village - a recently erected fence which many feared would cause “mayhem” when schools returned yesterday.
However, in an unexpected turn, a West Norfolk Council planning officer has now deemed the development to be lawful.
Many residents in St Germans have been up in arms since the fence was put up at the front of a residential School Lane property because it encroaches on the nearby memorial hall car park.
The car park is frequently used by parents dropping children off at St Germans Academy, which sits on the other side of the home, who enter the car park at one end before exiting via the other.
Speaking to the Lynn News, the couple who live in the home - who wished to remain anonymous - said this has led to them being unable to enter or exit their own driveway on multiple occasions.
Despite many suggesting otherwise, they insist that title deeds showing the chain of ownership for the land prove they have the right to put up the fence.
On Thursday, after receiving an official complaint from a councillor, a borough council planning officer deemed the fence to be a permitted development.
This followed a number of incidents which saw it vandalised by people who did not agree with it being installed.
School parents and councillors told the Lynn News of their concern for the return of classes yesterday, with some worried that without the full use of the memorial hall car park for drivers, children could be put at risk by traffic “mayhem”.
However, one of the School Lane residents who put up the fence said: “I am not a bad person. I am not an evil person.
“There is no part of me or my partner that would want harm to come to a child, no matter what other people say.”
The couple, who have a young child themselves, said they did not put the fence up out of frustration or anger, but “out of concern as a mother and father”.
They said they want to feel safe in the knowledge that emergency services can easily access their home if needed.
“We haven’t put a fence up to anger everyone,” the resident added.
“We have put a fence up to make sure that we can get in and out of our home.”
They shared images with the Lynn News showing access to School Lane from School Road being blocked by drivers parking cars across the entry point.
Prior to the planning officer’s decision, numerous parties had raised concerns about the potential ramifications of putting up the fence.
Borough councillor Brian Long, who represents the Tilney, Mershe Lande and Wiggenhall Ward, said the piece of land has been used as a car park for the memorial hall since the 1950s.
“For someone to fence across it to the detriment of the people trying to use the village hall is a terrible thing,” he said.
“It has put every single child that gets dropped off there at risk.
“As far as the community is concerned, I can’t see any justification for why that fence is there. As far as I am concerned, it is blocking a public space.”
Last week, trustees of the St Germans Memorial Hall committee confirmed that they are looking into potential legal action over the fence.
They said that as well as causing issues during school hours, it could also prove problematic for drivers wishing to access the village post office, which is located at the side of the hall.
David Lamacroft, 37, who lives in West Winch but takes his children to school in St Germans, had concerns ahead of the return from the Easter break.
“It would just be a safety hazard for children and members of the public,” he said.
“It goes from the point of the hedge line where their drive is and goes almost over half the car park.
“If they were responsible changes I would have no problem with that. It just needs to be sorted out for the safety of the children.”
Another woman with children at the academy, who did not wish to be named, said: “When they go back to school on Monday it is going to be mayhem.”
She said the likes of South West Norfolk MP Liz Truss, St Germans Parish Council and local education trusts have been contacted about the matter.
However, for the time being, it looks as though the fence will be allowed to stay.
Debates over who has right of way along School Lane and on the car park will likely rage on - especially if the vandalism done to the fence is anything to go by.
The residents of the School Lane property insist they have made numerous attempts over the past few years to discuss issues with their access being blocked, but had little luck.
They therefore feel as though they had little option but to put the fence in.
The couple said: “When erecting the fence we left at least 1.6m of space between the fence and the highway (pavement) to allow ease of access and egress to the parking area and fire evacuation.
“We believed that this would allow the children, parents, teachers and staff enough space to continue with everyday activities and fire evacuation plan.
“We had this signed off by Jason Moors (from Norfolk County Council’s highways department) on the day of the fence being erected as being ‘safe’ and ‘non obstructive’ for any users of the hall, private lane or highway.”
They added: “This fence cost us in excess of £2,000 and every single day since it has been up, despite repairs by ourselves, has been cut and destroyed by residents who firmly believe the fence is illegal.
“What started as a civil matter has quickly turned to a criminal matter following the anti-social behaviour issues of criminal damage.”
A spokesperson for the Unity Education Trust, which is responsible for the St Germans school, said that as a tenant of the school site, the only rights its lease grants in respect of School Lane is for obtaining access to and exit from the school.
Norfolk County Council is the landlord of the school site.
A statement from the trust shared with parents said: “Our hands are, therefore, effectively tied in what we can do legally but what we can do is try and act as a community hub to see if we can mediate a sensible solution that focuses on the health and safety of our pupils.
“Whilst we appreciate that the situation is extremely difficult for all involved, we would ask, whilst we are trying to resolve this matter, that all parties are respectful and courteous of each other.
“We are looking forward to welcoming the children back after the Easter break and would want this transition to be seamless for them.”
