I had a similar issue with the 'neighbour's' side of fence. That neighbour would not fix their fence and would not let me fix the panels either. Apparently I was trying to 'take' her boundary even when I explained that it would be like for like.
The situation got that bad whether rubbish would end up in my garden. So having contacted a fencing company and by looking on my deeds online (for a fe). I had a fence installed inside my boundary and then re-landscaped my garden.
I now have piece of mind that my garden is mine and it's fairly obvious that I look after my property.
Incidentally it took some years yes YEARS later she installed her own side but did it so tattily that every year the wind dragged it down.
The property is now rented out and the owner still wouldn't let the rental tenants tidy the garden. I guess some people are simply there to be Devils and no amount of reason will work. Put your energy into your environment and stay out of conflict with difficult neighbours who are difficult just because they can be.
I know so many people in this same situation. I think new home builders should install concete base and concrete posts which are much better at lasting than the rubbish fences they balance on the wet soil and wooden toothpick posts.
Some good advice, but remember these 'legal' heights are not set in stone, these are the heights you can build a fence/hedge without planning consent, there may be a possibility to go higher with consent (but if your neighbour objects it will probably be rejected). And do check your local regs, they vary around the UK.
Another point to note is that the height may not simply about planning, I'm sure when I read my local council planning website it stated that any fence over 2m (or is it 1.8m?) may require a building warrant as well. Why a building warrant? Over 6' / 1.86m high the wind area of your fence is too much for standard sized fence posts in standard sized holes so presumably this requirement is to ensure that you build a fence that is suitable for the wind loads at the height you want.
Adding screening or cloth (as per one suggestion) to the top would obviously increase the wind loading, at first glance adding some open trellis or stems of a climbing plant won't add very much additional wind load, although if you were ever to do a first principles wind load calculation with reynolds number scaling for the diameter of the stems etc. you might be surprised how the turbulence around slender elements can cause a much higher load than you might think.
I was surprised to see new posts on this site! James made his original enquiry over a year ago. By now he must have taken some action. Perhaps he could spare a minute or two to let us all know what he decided to do and how it has worked out.
It's because someone else has a query on a similar subject Rozie, so there have been replies to that. It often happens when someone does a search on a subject, and just posts on one they find.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Is there a reason why your neighbours do not want trellis on the top of the fence?If the gardens are small it could be a light issue.
I know my parents had issues with a neighbour when they removed some large shrubs from their side of a boundary to give them more space and more light. They had a tiny garden and the 7-8ft shrubs blocked most of the sun from it. Their neighbours planted their own trees and shrubs within weeks so parents' garden was back to darkness. In reality they did little to increase privacy as everyone could see into everyone else's gardens anyway.
Our garden here would have to be in complete darkness before we are no longer overlooked by neighbours. I would be pretty upset if our neighbours decided to put up some trellis on top of their fence I love our little sun trap of a garden.
...Alternatively they could just be pigheaded neighbours
Rainbowfish - the 'trellis' issue stems from the original OP's query. The thread's over a year old so I expect they've sorted the problem by now!
Just to re-iterate - attaching trellis to the top of a fence which is already maximum (or near maximum) legal height, isn't allowed. It will count as part of the fence, and will therefore exceed the legal maximum.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
'The property next door has now sold and the new nieghbours have torn down the shed and have errected a standard 6ft fence. Due to the hieght difference in the two gardens we can see everything and its not a great look (caravans and rubbish).'
To be honest, going by what the poster has said, none of your suggestions are going to hide stuff in the next garden. There already is a 6 foot fence and that is not hiding anything. Either you plant or create enough interesting stuff in your own garden to keep your eyes downward and inward or you plant some small trees along the boundary with the trunk growing to approx. 6-7 feet and then the canopy of the trees will hide next door's rubbish. Being optimistic, if they have demolished the shed, they may then tidy up the rest of the garden.
'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
Posts
The situation got that bad whether rubbish would end up in my garden. So having contacted a fencing company and by looking on my deeds online (for a fe). I had a fence installed inside my boundary and then re-landscaped my garden.
I now have piece of mind that my garden is mine and it's fairly obvious that I look after my property.
Incidentally it took some years yes YEARS later she installed her own side but did it so tattily that every year the wind dragged it down.
The property is now rented out and the owner still wouldn't let the rental tenants tidy the garden. I guess some people are simply there to be Devils and no amount of reason will work. Put your energy into your environment and stay out of conflict with difficult neighbours who are difficult just because they can be.
I know so many people in this same situation. I think new home builders should install concete base and concrete posts which are much better at lasting than the rubbish fences they balance on the wet soil and wooden toothpick posts.
I hope you build your garden as a haven.
Some good advice, but remember these 'legal' heights are not set in stone, these are the heights you can build a fence/hedge without planning consent, there may be a possibility to go higher with consent (but if your neighbour objects it will probably be rejected). And do check your local regs, they vary around the UK.
Another point to note is that the height may not simply about planning, I'm sure when I read my local council planning website it stated that any fence over 2m (or is it 1.8m?) may require a building warrant as well. Why a building warrant? Over 6' / 1.86m high the wind area of your fence is too much for standard sized fence posts in standard sized holes so presumably this requirement is to ensure that you build a fence that is suitable for the wind loads at the height you want.
Adding screening or cloth (as per one suggestion) to the top would obviously increase the wind loading, at first glance adding some open trellis or stems of a climbing plant won't add very much additional wind load, although if you were ever to do a first principles wind load calculation with reynolds number scaling for the diameter of the stems etc. you might be surprised how the turbulence around slender elements can cause a much higher load than you might think.
Good luck, I hope you can find a compromise.
I was surprised to see new posts on this site! James made his original enquiry over a year ago. By now he must have taken some action. Perhaps he could spare a minute or two to let us all know what he decided to do and how it has worked out.
It's because someone else has a query on a similar subject Rozie, so there have been replies to that. It often happens when someone does a search on a subject, and just posts on one they find.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Neighbours can be real pains.
Is there a reason why your neighbours do not want trellis on the top of the fence?If the gardens are small it could be a light issue.
I know my parents had issues with a neighbour when they removed some large shrubs from their side of a boundary to give them more space and more light. They had a tiny garden and the 7-8ft shrubs blocked most of the sun from it. Their neighbours planted their own trees and shrubs within weeks so parents' garden was back to darkness. In reality they did little to increase privacy as everyone could see into everyone else's gardens anyway.
Our garden here would have to be in complete darkness before we are no longer overlooked by neighbours. I would be pretty upset if our neighbours decided to put up some trellis on top of their fence I love our little sun trap of a garden.
...Alternatively they could just be pigheaded neighbours
Rainbowfish - the 'trellis' issue stems from the original OP's query. The thread's over a year old so I expect they've sorted the problem by now!
Just to re-iterate - attaching trellis to the top of a fence which is already maximum (or near maximum) legal height, isn't allowed. It will count as part of the fence, and will therefore exceed the legal maximum.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
To be honest, going by what the poster has said, none of your suggestions are going to hide stuff in the next garden. There already is a 6 foot fence and that is not hiding anything. Either you plant or create enough interesting stuff in your own garden to keep your eyes downward and inward or you plant some small trees along the boundary with the trunk growing to approx. 6-7 feet and then the canopy of the trees will hide next door's rubbish. Being optimistic, if they have demolished the shed, they may then tidy up the rest of the garden.
Fairygirl- I really should read the dates.
Wish other people did as well
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...