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THROWING SHADE
Furious neighbours ‘prisoners in their own homes’ after builders BLOCK their windows with 6ft fence
FURIOUS neighbours have been left "prisoners in their own homes" after their windows were blocked with a fence.
Villagers called the police after builders installed the 6ft structure outside their homes in Clee Hill, Shropshire.
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Homeowners say there were told the wooden fence was put up for their "own safety" earlier this week while they build a house next door.
But fed-up locals are demanding it's removed immediately.
Derek Prescott, 71, told The Sun: “They’ve blocked our downstairs windows.
“We can just open them about an inch.
“They told us they put this up for our safety.
“We have reported this to the police and we are waiting for them to come around.
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“We’ve been told we can’t take it down or we would be reported for criminal damage so we’re in limbo."
Mr Prescott, who lives in the two-bed house with his wife Lynda, 68, has been left powerless as the council revealed the builders don't need planning permission.
The land next to the property belongs to the developer but residents claim they have been told they are trespassing if they keep their windows open.
Neighbour Carrie Warrington, who suffers from fibromyalgia, a long term condition which causes pain all over her body, said: "I just sit there in tears sometimes.
"The developer told me to shut my windows otherwise we would be trespassing."
Carrie's husband Patrick branded the situation "a mess".
The builder, 53, who lives next door to Mr and Mrs Prescott in the split-level home, said: "The developer has just done this off his own bat.
'IT'S A MESS'
"We can't even open our windows.
“We are just waiting to see if anything is going to be done but we are getting absolutely nowhere with it.
“It’s just ridiculous, but why put it across mine.
“They just turned up three days ago and started putting all this across our house."
Shocked Patrick was so overwhelmed he asked his paralegal friend Sharon Weston to help the residents with the case.
Sharon said: “Before I spoke to Patrick I hadn’t realised how horrendous it was.
“They are prisoners in their own home.
“I am shocked with what I have encountered, there has been a lack of co-operation."
NEIGHBOURS' FURY
Shropshire Council confirmed the developer has said the fence will be removed on Tuesday once the building work is complete.
A spokesman added: “The council is aware of the situation and the difficult issues relating to this development, most notably the erection of temporary protective fencing affecting one of the properties.
"We are keen to find a resolution to this matter.
“The impact is understandably upsetting for the residents.
"The developer has assured us that the fence will be removed by September 14 once they have carried out works to the adjoining new dwelling.
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"They then wish to hold discussions with the council and the residents to agree the best way forward."
A spokesperson from KH Developments declined to comment.
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