A SECURITY fence and gate for Stogursey Primary and Pre-School has been given planning permission following fears around ‘serious safeguarding concerns’ for pupils because of alleged trespassing.

Quantock Education Trust applied for ‘urgent’ consent to put up a six feet high, 148 feet long V mesh fence for ‘safeguarding and child protection purposes’.

But neighbours Martin Mulholland and Karen Pudd said it would block their right of access across the school grounds in Tower Hill to their home in the Old School House, and parish councillors said they could not express a view until the contentious issue was resolved.

Mr Mulholland and Ms Pudd said they had a legal ‘right to pass and repass at all times and for all purposes’ but had already seen their access blocked by a fence built without planning permission in 2016.

They said the school grounds could still be accessed from eight other points around its boundary, while the proposed new fence would be a third obstruction for wheelchair and mobility scooter users and for emergency services.

The couple appreciated the concerns relating to the safeguarding of the school’s 65 pupils aged five to 11 years, but made the point that they were ‘not a threat to Stogursey pupils’.

Mr Mulholland held a UK teaching licence and taught for 30 years, while Ms Pudd had been a parent-teacher association chairman and treasurer for many years, and when they retired to Stogursey they obtained DBS certification through the school trust which now wanted to put up the fence.

They said recently they had experienced being locked out of their home by the school, stopped by a parent from mowing their front lawn, and prevented from having a fuel oil delivery when pupils were not in school.

But Somerset Council planning officer Sarah Wilsher said the right of way issue was a civil matter and not a material planning consideration.

Ms Wilsher said the school had the right to impose conditions on the right of access, which it had done by allowing it by prior arrangement and when accompanied by a member of school staff, which would continue to apply when the new fencing was installed.

She said there was a separate pedestrian and vehicular access to the Old School House along its western boundary.

Ms Wilsher said the fencing would not affect the historic environment of the 164-year-old grade two listed school, nor the Old School House, which was also listed.

She said it would cover ‘a relatively small area’ within the school site at a relatively low height compared to existing higher mesh fencing along the northern roadside boundary.

Headteacher Gary Tucker told parents in a newsletter that work on the new security fencing would begin shortly.

Mr Tucker said: “Early next term, we will be able to use the playground again and the staff will be so pleased to regain their car park.

“Thank you to the Victory Hall committee for allowing staff to park their vehicles at the hall during this transitionary time.”