Council finally resolves row over Sutton Bridge fence

A wrangle over ownership and repair of a Sutton Bridge fence damaged in strong winds is partially resolved.

Part of a Grebe Close fence, which separates green space maintained by South Holland District Council and agricultural land, was blown down last December.

Housing developer Kier was contacted and said the fence had been transferred to the council. The council rejected this and asked for Kier to provide more information, which it did.

After a long stand-off, the council’s legal department did finally confirm that the fence was the council’s responsibility, but that it had no obligation to replace it.

Sutton Bridge resident and parish councillor Phil Scarlett contacted The Voice after no further communication from the district council than six weeks ago when it said it was considering what, if anything, it might do.

Coun Scarlett said: “It appears that this is part of the [district] council’s cutbacks and could have an impact on many areas in the district where a housing developer has fenced the area surrounding the housing and handed it over to the council.

“There is an irony – the fence panels were in good condition when the fence was blown down, it simply required four new posts but after six months the panels are no longer in a usable condition having lain in the farmer’s field.”

A council spokesman told The Voice: “We are actively sourcing quotes for the work and aim to replace the damaged section with fencing that is easier to maintain, resulting in better value for local tax payers.”