A 2M-HIGH fence in Eaglescliffe will have to be removed or reduced in height.

A retrospective application for the fence on the corner of Yarm Road and Station Road was refused by the local authority and the applicant, Mr W Gate of Burlington House, appealed against the decision.

The planning inspector has upheld the decision of Stockton Borough Council, agreeing that the close-boarded fence, which stands about 2m high, is not in keeping with the conservation area and affects sight lines for motorists and pedestrians.

Coun John Fletcher, who represents the area as a borough councillor, said "A lot of people thought the new fence was ugly, and there were so many objections it went before the planning committee.

"The committee took my and Coun Mauren Rigg's view that the application should be turned down because it did not look right and it spoiled the sight lines for traffic turning left out of Yarm Road."

A spokeswoman for the borough council said an enforcement officer would write to Mr Gate to tell him that the fence would have to be removed or reduced in height to no more than 1m.