8 hours ago
'Great Wall of Devon' landowner wages war with neighbours AGAIN after building six foot concrete barrier to block locals
After blocking parents and schoolchildren with a 'dangerous' six-foot concrete barrier, developers have struck again in a fresh attempt to completely cut off the route.
The 2-meter concrete barrier, which was hastily and mysteriously erected over the Easter holidays, stopped residents from getting their children to St James Primary School in Oklehampton, Devon.
It was built between two housing estates which developers said was private land, warning those who passed through were 'trespassing'.
Since then, the wall dubbed by locals as the 'Berlin Wall' has been broken up by a mysterious have-a-go hero in a rented JCB.
A gap was left big enough for push chairs, bikes and mobility scooters to get through the two housing estates in Kellands Lane.
However, in a latest twist, the wall has been completely dismantled and the blocks have been spread across the path in a fresh attempt to impede a way through.
A tall fence has also been put up around the blocks to entirely cut off the pathway.
Leander Developments has said the 'temporary' fencing is for 'insurance purposes' as they are 'required to take reasonable steps to prevent trespass across our land'.
Councillor George Dexter, of West Devon Borough Council, North Ward, told Devon Live: 'This was done without warning after the children from the estate had gone to school, so they have to make a long detour to go home.
'I was told that St James school had to inform the parents to allow them to leave early.'
The councillor previously revealed that the problem with the thin stretch of land is that it is located on a ransom strip from a nearby stretch of privately owned land.
Therefore, any use of the road as a thoroughfare is technically trespassing.
He explained: 'There used to be a hedge here, but families would just walk around it and in the intervening years the estates have sprung up around it.
'A few weeks ago this wall suddenly appeared and everyone was confused. It cuts off everybody here.
'Last week a resident took things into his own hands and soon after the council issued an enforcement notice.'
In April, West Devon Borough Council issued an enforcement notice ordering Leander Developments to remove the unauthorised structure dubbed by locals as the ' Berlin Wall'.
The landowner appealed the notice and the council advised the Planning Inspectorate dealing with the appeal that the block structure be removed.
Cllr Caroline Mott, West Devon's Borough Council's Lead Member for Planning & Built Environment, said: 'Our Planning Enforcement Team were made aware that the structure at Kellands Lane had been replaced by Heras Fencing and included a larger area enclosed by the Heras Fencing.
'Our Enforcement Team has been to visit the site to take further photographs and measurements.
'They have confirmed that work carried out, happened on the day of the Temporary Stop Notice, which prevents such work, expired.
'We are now considering the implications for further Planning Enforcement action.'
An enforcement notice is used when development is carried out without the necessary planning permission.
The notice tells the person receiving it what they have done wrong, what must be done to put it right and the timescale within which that must be done.
Locals have previously shared their fears over the landowner appealing the enforcement notice.
When MailOnline visited the estate in April, half of the wall had been demolished, with blocks lying scattered on the ground.
Cllr Dexter said: 'It's a big deal for these people. Why have they done it? Locals think it's down to proposed developments in the field next door to it.
'They think the developers are using their ownership of the ransom strip to get a better deal with their application.'
Nearby residents have described it as 'really dangerous' and expressed delight when it was initially knocked down.
'Nobody knew why it was put up', says Dana Green, 40, 'I moved here seven years ago and there was a hedge which died.
'Then they put up this huge wall and the kids have been crawling underneath the gaps.
'It's really dangerous.'
Roy Hopkinson lives right next to the hated wall. 'It's been mental,' he concedes, 'I don't know why they've put it there.
'It does look like the Berlin Wall, It made the neighbourhood a lot quieter, people were joking that there would soon be watchtowers installed.
'Everyone was grateful to the person that knocked it down.'
'My husband can't get through it as she uses a mobility scooter', said Verity Warren, 'I can't believe they just whacked it up. It used to be a load of dirt but then they made a new path when the school was opened.
'Nothing happens for ages and then there's a bloody great wall built.
'Why didn't they just put some bollards down!'
Keith Monnax told MailOnline he had originally made the path through the mud.
He said: 'I saw them putting the wall up and thought it was a bit harsh. But then they came and knocked it down anyway.
'What happens now? It's petty and all about land, but nobody knows where it will go from here.'
A spokesman for Leander Developments said: 'The land is under private ownership, and there is no public right of way - anyone who crosses this land is committing trespass.
'The recently erected temporary fencing is for insurance purposes, as we are required to take reasonable steps to prevent trespass across our land.
'Around March this year, Google Maps started showing a path across the land, so we have no choice but to take steps to prevent illegal entry onto our land, to comply with the terms of our insurance policy.
'Previously, this piece of land was blocked off, but members of the public removed a section of the hedge to create a path, without permission, which has caused this issue.
'We installed a temporary block wall under Permitted Development Rights, but the Council issued an Enforcement Notice on the grounds of design, which we are appealing through the Planning Inspectorate.
'As an unknown member of the public partially destroyed the temporary block wall with a digger and rendered it unsafe, we have had to dismantle the rest of the wall on health and safety grounds.
'We have a Construction Management Plan, approved by West Devon Borough Council, which allows fencing in this location.
'The fencing will be in place until the appeal is determined, and a permanent solution can be agreed with West Devon Borough Council.
'On 6th January 2023 (two and a half years ago) we had a meeting, on site, with two Directors of the Council, the local member, and the then Leader of the Council to discuss a long-term solution to complete the Kellands Lane connection.
'After the meeting, no further action was taken by West Devon Borough Council.
'We remain willing to work towards resolving this issue, and completing the road connection, but West Devon Borough Council do need to engage with us to enable this to happen.'
