The wooden panels stood just inches from the living room window, blocking 90% of the sunlight and offering only a view of the tops of passers-by’s heads. For weeks, neighbours and social media users called it ‘hideous’, ‘ridiculous’ and ‘beyond stupid’. Now the fence in Lockleaze, Bristol, has been pulled down — replaced with black metal railings.
One of the workers sent to dismantle it admitted: ‘Obviously the fence did look hideous and blocked 90 per cent of the sunlight going in. I think because of the views it had online, it was just decided that it needed to come down and something else put back in its place. All I know is that it was asked to be taken down.’
“Council removes 'hideous' fence that blocked 90% of living room sunlight in Bristol after backlash.”
The property, owned by Bristol City Council, had the barrier installed ‘for health and safety reasons’, the council said, because of a ‘significant drop’ between the driveway and the side of the house. But residents were baffled. A neighbour who is a builder said: ‘I can’t work it out and I’m a builder. It blocks the windows out. I think everyone is confused.’ Another neighbour described it as ‘health and safety gone a bit mad’ and added: ‘I think it looked ridiculous. Whoever decided to do that, why? I just thought it was a bit silly and obviously common sense should come in at some point.’
Thousands mocked the fence on social media after it went up last month. One wrote: ‘Oh my goodness that is beyond stupid!’ Another said: ‘This is ridiculous, surely the person who put that up must have questioned it?’
A council spokesperson said: ‘The fence was initially installed due to the significant drop between the drive and the side of the house – a barrier was therefore required for health and safety reasons. The fence was replaced with the black railings to reduce the visual impact on residents.’
For now, the new railings let light back into the living room — and the view is no longer just the tops of heads.