A VETERAN Basingstoke councillor has resigned from a committee over what he sees as a "planning injustice".

Gerry Traynor stood down from Basingstoke council's development control committee after a family in South Ham were ordered to remove a fence they had erected so their son could play safely.

Cllr Traynor said he felt so strongly about the issue that he almost resigned from the council itself.

The 69-year-old retired warehouse supervisor told The Gazette: "I feel an injustice was done to one of my constituents.

"It was over a planning application to fence off the rear garden of their property, where it is difficult to allow children to play if it is completely open.

"People also throw rubbish onto these open gardens, while dogs can get on and foul them.

"But the council, in its wisdom, decided - after a rather elegant speech from a member of the development control committee - not to grant permission for the fence.

"In fact, it went even further and decided to enforce the original decision to have the fence taken down.

"I could not see a reason for refusing the application."

Cllr Traynor said the members' argument was that the garden, in Stag Hill, was open space.

He added: "They have a point. When the houses were built in the 1950s and '60s, the gardens were all open plan.

"But when it was landlord, the council actually erected fences in the area."

Cllr Traynor stepped in to try to persuade members to change their minds following the original decision earlier in the year.

"The family appealed but the planning inspector agreed with the council's decision," he said.

"It may be right, technically, but really it's an injustice.

"After 15 years on the council I thought it was one of the worst things I had ever come across."

Thirty-five-year-old Emma McCormick, the mother at the centre of the fence row, told the Gazette: "When we bought the house three years ago we were told by Kingfisher Housing Association it would be all right to put a fence around the garden as long as it was on our property. We even have it in writing.

"We did it so our son, Stephen, who is now 12, would have somewhere to play safely and could kick a ball around without annoying the neighbours.

"The fence is due to come down in three weeks.

"It seems there is one rule for one area and a different rule for another. If we lived in Old Basing or Hatch Warren, it would be allowed.

"I also know of half-a-dozen houses in South Ham where people have done the same as us - but nothing has been done about them."

Mrs McCormick said she and her partner, Michael Atkin, a shop-fitter, were very upset when they heard that Cllr Traynor had resigned from the development control committee over their case.

She added: "We heard that he had also considered resigning from the council. We are glad he didn't do that - he is a good man."

Due to boundary changes, all council seats will be subject to re-election next May.

Asked if he would be standing, Cllr Traynor replied: "If my ward wants me, of course I will certainly stand again."