Gulf War veteran forced to take down fence (From This is The West Country)

Gulf War veteran forced to take down fence

9:00pm Thursday 19th November 2009

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A GULF War veteran avoided legal action by removing a fence from council land his family has tended for almost 40 years.

Simon Aldridge put up the wooden fence around a grassed area outside his home in Normandy Drive, Taunton, after he bought his late parents’ council house.

His father planted trees and flowers there in the early 1970s.

But when Mr Aldridge, 50, applied to take over the land, the council told him to remove the fence.

He said: “My father and I have maintained the site since I was 12.

“I’m not trying to steal the land, simply maintaining it as a service to the community.

“I couldn’t believe it when the council told me to remove it or face an injunction.”

Former Royal Artillery sergeant Mr Aldridge removed the fence on Tuesday with his military medals proudly pinned to his blazer.

He said: “I’ve fought for my country and when I try to do something for the community this is how I’m treated.”

Conservative Parliamentary candidate Mark Formosa, who supported Mr Aldridge, said: “It’s shocking the council can treat someone like this when they’ve been doing the area a service.”

A Taunton Deane Council spokeswoman declined to comment on individual cases.

She added: “It’s important that open or amenity land is maintained as open space for all to enjoy rather than fenced off by individual property owners or tenants, however good their intention.

“The council takes great pride in the borough’s appearance by maintaining open spaces, flower beds, playgrounds and amenity areas on housing estates to a high standard.”

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