RESIDENTS have been left ‘feeling imprisoned’ after ‘obscene’ fencing was erected at the back of their street without permission.

Cllr Roy Davies said he has received several complaints from people living in Anyon Street after the metal fencing was built on the wall behind their homes.

Blackburn with Darwen Council received a retrospective planning application for the fencing from Bowland Trading Ltd in Higher London Terrace, which was rejected.

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However, the company said it will appeal the decision and the fencing helps keep children off roofs and prevents litter being dumped in its yard.

Cllr Davies, who represents the area for the council, said: “It’s absolutely massive.

“People on the street are complaining that they feel like they’re in prison when they look out of their windows.

“It must be 13 or 14ft high, it’s ridiculous.

“It used to be relatively pleasant to look at but now the fencing has gone up it’s just obscene.”

He also said another problem with the fence is that the railings are on the outside and there is debris on the floor where they have been installed.

A large wall was already in place before the steel palisade fence was added to the wall without first receiving planning permission.

A retrospective application was then rejected last week.

The council said the application was refused last week as it ‘represents a visually intrusive feature, harmful to the outlook of neighbouring dwellings’.

Dan Monaghan, director at Bowland Trading Ltd, said the company will be appealing the decision as the wall has two main benefits.

He said: “Over the last four years more than 100 bags of rubbish have been dumped over that wall.

“We’re trying to safe guard it from a health and safety point of view.

“We’re trying to keep people off the roofs, if people fall and injure themselves people will be coming to us for compensation.

“Some of the other residents have been on our side saying it will safeguard their children.”

Cllr Phil Riley, regeneration boss for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “Planning permission for this fence was refused by the council and we are now considering enforcement action for its removal.

“The applicant does have the right to an appeal against the decision and any subsequent enforcement notice that is served.”