Where did the sky go?

Elderly couple can’t see through windows of barn conversion after neighbour puts up 6ft metal fence

FOR years they enjoyed sweeping views across farmland from their idyllic barn conversion.

But now retired teachers Arthur and Eva Evans have been left staring at a 6ft metal fence a foot away from their living room window.

The couple, who are both in their eighties, claim their home has been plunged into darkness following a series of alleged run-ins with their property developer neighbour.

Yesterday the great grandparents, of Ashton With Stodday, near Lancaster, said the dispute had wrecked their health and claimed they were being ‘driven into an early grave’.

Despite the fence blocking their view, local planners say they are powerless to intervene.

Mr Evans, 86, said: ‘It is a living nightmare. I do not want this.

‘We moved here for a quiet life, it was our dream home. We love the house and we love the people around us. The houses are not highly lit – we need the window as we are battling for light anyway.’

The couple bought their home, at one end of a newly-converted barn, 15 years ago. It has five windows

Fenced in: The living room window, circled Room with no view: Eva, 84, and Arthur Evans, 86, now have barely any natural light on the ground floor of the gable end side – four small ones and a larger one in the living room.

‘The fence totally blocks the small windows,’ Mr Evans said. ‘With the larger window there is a three-inch gap so we can look up to the heavens and that is about it.’ The couple are understood to have been in dispute over a shared access road to the property with their owns The neighbour most couple of said the Roger development. the fence Clark, and who a wall was put up 14 months ago. They have complained to their local planning department and tried to report the dispute to the police, but say they haven’t felt able to speak to Mr Clark about it directly. They have contemplated moving, but fear they would now be unable to sell. When contacted, Mr Clark said he had received no complaints either from Mr Evans or from any other organisation. ‘If any claims come through then we will respond whichever way we see fit,’ he said. ‘For the time being I have had no complaints. My company owns most of the estate. We are not in any breach of anything at the said moment.’ it had Lancaster advised Mr City and Council Mrs Evans that erecting a wall or fence up to 6ft tall was permitted. Occupants of a house are considered to have a ‘right to light’ – but this may only apply if they or their predecessors enjoyed it for the past 20 years, five years longer than Mr and Mrs Evans have owned the house.