A PENSIONER says she's going mad after her neighbour built a six-foot fence that's ruined her view and blocks light from coming into her home.
Sheila Parkinson, 75, says she's also feeling left in the dark after begging the council for help multiple times, but no one coming to see her.
The Lincolnshire woman said the fence was only put up last month, but she feels like she's already "going mad".
Sheila said not only does the fence stop sunlight and its warmth coming into her home, she can't see past the six-foot structure.
Now all she sees when she looks out her living room window is the roofs of a few houses and the neighbour's fence.
The 75-year-old says she is forced to go outside and stand on her drive to see down the street.
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Sheila said: "There's a fence in my front window and there's reduced daylight coming in.
"When it was put up in October I sat down in my room and thought, 'I can't see anybody out there'. It's depressing me, if I'm honest.
"If I didn't have friends and my daughter supporting me I think I would've gone mad.
"You would've gone mad in this house, and with it getting colder now you can't go out as much."
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She said when she sits on her sofa and looks out the window, she can't see anything.
Sheila added: "I'm 75 and I'm on my own a lot of the time and it's horrible.
"I'm having to keep the light on a lot of the time and I don't like it because it's using my electricity and it will cost me.
"I usually go out because I think, 'I can't sit here all day'.
"I usually go for a walk or to town or something like that because otherwise I'd go mad.
"I don't mind there being a big fence, but just not right in front of my window.
"You can see the tops of the houses but that's it. I have to go outside onto my drive to see down the street."
Sheila says she has contacted North East Lincolnshire Council three times and been told that someone will come and see her – but nobody has.
She said: "I've been on to the council day and night but nothing is being done – they said they'll send someone out but they never came."
I'm 75 and I'm on my own a lot of the time and it's horrible.
A council spokesperson said the planned visit had been delayed.
They said: “This issue was first reported to our planning team on October 24 this year and there has already been discussions between the reporter of the works and the enforcement officer.
"Unfortunately, due to circumstances that were beyond our control, an initial planned visit had to be delayed.
"However, that has now been resolved and the appropriate officer has made contact again and a replanned visit has been arranged.”
The national planning permission guidelines say residents don't have to apply for planning permission if a fence, not next to a highway, is no taller than two meters.
Therefore, the fence is not believed to be in breach of the guidelines.
The neighbour was approached, but did not wish to comment on the matter.
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If you and your neighbour disagree about a wall or fence, Citizen's Advice offer helpful tips on what you can do to solve the problem.
If you’re not sure what to do, you can get help at your nearest Citizens Advice.
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