An argument between an East Lothian family and the council has seen them remove their outdoor pizza oven.
The household in Tranent had been contacted by the council after a complaint regarding the use of an outdoor fire in their garden as a pizza oven.
After receiving just one complaint regarding the appliance, the council had given out an enforcement notice to the property on Winton Court, forcing them to apply for planning permission.
The application was ordered to include a request for the fire itself, as well as an open roof and some fencing that had been erected around it.
Desperate to keep their set up, the owners have removed the oven but have now begged the council to let them retain the fencing, after their subsequent application was denied.
With the roof also taken down,the row had escalated to the Scottish Ministers in an appeal, however the council are to re-issue their enforcement notice for the fencing, meaning it must come down.
Arguing on behalf of her clients, agent for the owners Joanna Tonska stated that the fence is sizeably smaller than others in the area, adding that it had been up for six years before any controversy arose.
She stated: “My clients removed the roofing over the patio and external fireplace but they are desperate to keep the existing fence in place… mainly for safety reasons.
“[The] house is not in a conservation area. Not one neighbour opposed the development.
“Design of all buildings on the street and their relationship to the road doesn’t define clearly where is the front of these properties and where is the side.
“Therefore this development proposal is not harmful [and] is setting better standards for the look of the area.”
Despite the pleas against the council, they have confirmed that an amended notice will still be issued to the property.
They said: “It is East Lothian Council’s intention to amend the enforcement notice as served upon the owners of 5 Winton Court accordingly to reflect compliance sought by them to date.
“The amended notice will be re‐served in respect of the only aspect of unauthorised development left on site at 5 Winton Court – the fencing.”
