A GRANDAD of three is battling with planning chiefs who told him: "Tear down this wall!"
Terence Mahoney, pictured above, and wife Janet had hoped for a peaceful retirement in their bungalow at Clevegate in Nunthorpe.
They enjoyed sitting out on the front garden in fine weather and watching the world go by. But this ideal was shattered last year when thieves made off with their outdoor seat and two concrete lions.
Terence, who fought throat cancer earlier this year, said: "God knows how they managed to carry away anything that heavy. The lions cost me £750, and the seat was £250 - it was terrible to wake up and find them gone.
"I knew then I needed something a bit more secure"
The retired car salesman engaged a builder who construct a 10-brick high wall with wrought iron railings to deter thieves from trespassing and stealing from him again.
But a complaint from a neighbour and an investigation by Middlesbrough Borough Council led to Terence receiving notice the wall should be pulled down.
He appealed the decision, but this was dismissed by a planning inspector.
Terence said: "The whole thing is scandalous. The wall cost me £3,500, and it will cost a small fortune to take it down.
"More than 20 people in this street have signed a petition saying they think the wall looks good and it should stay."
"My next door neighbour said he'd like a similar wall himself, and the lady who lives opposite doesn't mind it at all."
The decision to dismiss the appeal was taken by an inspector from the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol.
His report sets out three key reasons for dismissing the appeal:
The houses on the estate have open plan front gardens which "accentuates the suburban characteristics of the estate."
The wall and railings interrupt the view of otherwise open plan gardens, "creating an incongruous built intrusion into the verdant vista along the street."
The wall does not provide sufficient deterrent to thieves or enhance the security of the property.
But despite the ruling from the inspector, who works under the authority of the Hazel Blears, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Terence says he will continue to fight to keep his wall.
He said: "I will fight this appeal - I pay my council taxes and own my own home - they've no right to interfere."
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I can see it from both points, however middlesbrough council dont object to people tiling their roofs of extensions with out of character tiles, take a trip to egton avenue on the same estate, the wall looks fine, double statndards by the council however as long as its within the law then thats fine, (also known as jobsworthism)
bring on the crumpets!
Now he does not look happy...
Wheres ya lions gone, wheres ya lions gone!
Looks like belmarsh with that wall.