Burglary-hit businessman Graham Jaggar has been ordered to take down his £10,000 security fence – because it poses a road safety hazard.
Self-employed electrician Mr Jaggar, 51, claims he was given the green light for the 7ft metal fence outside his Dewsbury home by a Kirklees Council planning officer.
After 10 raids on his home in the space of just two months in 2013, Mr Jaggar took out a loan for the fence and electric gate in a desperate bid to secure his property.
His home hasn’t been raided since but now the dad-of-four is locked in a planning row with the council.
A driver complained that the fence caused a roadside blind spot and the council’s highways department agreed it was a danger, insisting the fence needed planning permission.
Planners wouldn’t sanction the fence but offered a compromise meaning part of it must be moved back 3ft, changes that will cost Mr Jaggar another £3,000.
“It’s just one hell of a nightmare,” said Mr Jaggar. “I didn’t really want this fence in the first place, it makes my house look like a prison yard, but I had to do it to protect my home.
“I spoke to a planning officer who gave me verbal permission and said there was no problem. Now highways says the fence has to come down.
“The planning officer has since left the council and can’t be contacted. If I could find him and prove that he gave me permission I would be suing the council over this.”
Mr Jaggar, of Syke Lane, Earlsheaton, hit the headlines in 2013 when he put up a banner outside his home warning thieves there was nothing left to steal.
He used offensive language and was told by police he faced arrest if he didn’t cover up the offending words.
Mr Jaggar claims to have had up £30,000 worth of property – mainly expensive tools – stolen down the years.
He added: “I have not had any burglaries since putting up the fence over 12 months ago but now they want it to come down.
“I could plant 10ft tall trees instead, which would cause a worse blind spot, and there is nothing the council could do about it. It’s ridiculous and a scandal. Where’s the common sense?”
A council spokesman said a temporary CCTV camera was sited near Mr Jaggar’s home in 2013 and he was offered security advice by the local neighbourhood management group, which includes council officers and police. However no permission was given for a fence.
The spokesman added: “There is also no record of Mr Jaggar contacting the council’s highways department before putting up the fence.
“Anyone contacting this department would have been advised that a fence or wall next to an adopted highway requires planning permission if it is going to be taller than one metre.
“A site visit was carried out following complaints about the fence blocking visibility for drivers exiting the adjacent junction. The fence was found to prevent the visibility of oncoming vehicles from the right of the junction.
“Mr Jaggar has been advised that he could apply for planning permission in retrospect but, given the road safety concerns, the council was unlikely to support its installation.”
