A STOURPORT couple involved in a dispute with neighbours over a controversial fence are taking their fight back to Wyre Forest District Council.

A planning inspector, appointed by the Government, has ordered Jane and John Payne to remove the six-foot structure at the back of their Bowpatch Road home.

The report did give permission to the homeowners to complete a new access to their property where they have lived for 21 years.

They now plan to place a one-metre high fence on their land to prevent people accessing it through an alleyway that runs alongside.

A certificate of lawfulness, which seeks to determine the legal entitlement of a boundary around private property, was sent to the council on October 5.

Mrs Payne said the 18-month row was the first dispute the couple had encountered with neighbours since living at the address.

She added: "The planning application was an attempt to reconcile the situation and create a compromise to benefit all.

"If successful, half of the land would have been transferred free of charge to the council and maintained for public use."

Campaigning residents in Callow Close, Wrekin Walk and Bowpatch Road plan to try and protect the disputed land by giving it "Village Green" status.

Mrs Payne said: "Insofar as the Village Green status application is concerned, it does not fulfil either the required criteria or current legislation.

"The alleged public use is also controversial and unproven at this time."