A NEWHALL woman must pay to repair a ‘dangerous’ garden fence — despite living in a council-owned home.
Joanne Johnson, of Bretby Road, claimed that she could not afford to fix the back garden fence after it partly blew over during high winds.
South Derbyshire District Council said it would investigate but has now said it would be a ‘huge burden’ on taxpayers if the authority decided to foot the bill for the repairs.
Ms Johnson said there were parts dropping off the fence, which was now being held up by scaffolding and was dangerous for her next-door neighbour’s five children.
A spokesman for the council said: “Our policy clearly states that fencing like this, which borders another garden, is the responsibility of tenants.
This was agreed to by a panel of tenants in 2009.
“We would be responsible, for example, if the fence was bordering an open space or right of way and affecting the wider public.
“For us to take full responsibility for fencing throughout the district would be a huge burden on the rent payer of South Derbyshire.”
