Plans to bridge the fence divide (From Gazette Series)

Plans to bridge the fence divide

WESTERLEIGH Parish Council is to hold a public consultation to decide what should happen about a controversial fence between the playing fields and a village pub.

Parishioners will be shown the options which could solve the long-running boundary controversy between the public space and Ye Olde Inn.

Last year the council was advised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents that there were risks to children crossing the pub car park to reach the play area.

"As a result the council carried out works, totalling £1,882, to improve access to the playing field so that the boundary hedge could be reinstated," said clerk Susan Todd.

"The fence and the hedge have suffered six vandalism attacks. Each attack has created a hole making a route to and from the pub.

"In July parishioners came to the parish council to ask if a gate might be installed in the hedge."

When councillors met last Monday they were updated on the consultation process, which includes an exhibition of proposed plans.

Now those plans will be made available to all interested residents and their comments are being asked for in a follow-up questionnaire.

Everyone is welcomed to have their say on the controversy tomorrow (10am-1pm) in the village hall but Westerleigh resident Rob Bushill thinks the dividing gate already installed should be considered as the final possibility.

He told the Gazette: "The council decided that the area should be fenced off for many different reasons.

"People use it as access to the field and residents got so annoyed with the council spending money on the fence that nobody wanted, that they decided to put the gate in themselves.

"A lot of people have put money towards the gate and it has been a community effort.

"People want the option of having the gate there. I think that the consultation is a good thing to have because we just don't feel that we are being listened to."

Mr Bushill added that the fence was not the only issue that needed to be addressed. He argued disabled access should be investigated.

Earlier this year parishioners were warned that continued vandalism would mean a rise in their council tax as repair bills were becoming too costly for the council to meet.

Cllr Alan Bracey said at the time: "I will be recommending to the council that the fence and hedge will continue to be repaired each time that it is attacked and that the parishioners of Westerleigh will be footing the bill."

For any further information contact the parish council on 01454 864433.