Midlothian garden fence slammed as 'undesirable' as owner facing order to tear it down

A home owner faces being ordered to tear down their garden fence after moving it out to enclose public land along the side of their house.

Midlothian planners rejected a retrospective planning application to change the use of the 21-metre long strip of land, which is just under 4 metres wide, to private garden space and enclose it with a 6ft fence.

And they called for the fence, which is already in place at the home in Kippielaw Walk, Dalkeith, to be looked into by the council's enforcement team.

Planning officers said allowing it to stay in place would set an 'undesirable precedent' and could lead to 'further degradation of the character of the area'.

They said: "This area of public open space makes a valuable contribution to the character and visual amenity of this housing estate,