Replace stretch of fencing blown down

Oil_Watcher

Hi all,

Part of my fencing at the side of my house blew down last week in the gales ( I'm in N Yorks). The whole fence line measures about 29 metres in total and is adjacent to a public walkway (or snicket way) between mine and the next house along. I contacted the council to close off the walkway as the fence was listing dangerously and I couldn't get anyone out straightaway so there are footpath closed barriers at each end at the moment.

First quote i've had has come in at £2052 inc vat! :shocked: This is to pull out whole of old fence and dispose and replace with concrete posts, 1ft concrete baseboards and 5ft feather board panels. The quote for larchlap was a £100 less. Labour was £750.00. Seems a very high quote and I haven't got that sort of money! My problem is the path is currently shut off and preventing people using the shortcut. If i remove the fence the garden and back of house will be open and not secure so it might put any house insurance claim at risk if I have a break in. I'm not insured for the fence.

My deeds show no responsibility for me to replace or repair - is the council equally liable as they maintain the pathway?

Thanks.

2013yearofthehouse

Sorry I can't help with the council legalities, but I agree that quote is very high.

Last year, we had several quotes of £1300-1700 for about 34m of the same type of fence. I seem to remember the labour made up around £800 of that. We're in Berkshire, where apparently prices can be higher than average.

Oil_Watcher

Thanks 2013,

Good to know that another person thinks it's high. I've got another contractor coming round this afternoon so we'll see what he comes up with.

Labour charges seem so high for fencing compared to work indoors.

After i posted the message yesterday, a very rude man from NYCC rang me and asked me what did I think I was doing blocking off a right of way. He simply launched in telling me they would recharge me for removal of my fence and that it shouldn't have been blocked off by Highways. In fact, it turned out he had the wrong house and the wrong path! Mine is not a PROW and I knew that. The man didn't even apologise and I was quite upset afterwards. His customer service skills were non existant.