S.O.C.H.

A move to control any new form of fence, wall, gate or enclosure on land at the front of a village's ancient priory has been given the permanent go-ahead. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has confirmed Tendring District Council's (TDC) request for a special planning restriction to be placed on The Bury, at St. Osyth. The aim of the order is to prevent the erection of any fence, wall, gate or enclosure on the site without the Council's specific permission.

Cllr Iris Johnson, Portfolio Holder for Planning at TDC, said she was delighted that the Council had been supported over this issue. "The Secretary of State fully accepted the Council's case that The Bury was of such historic importance that it fully deserved the special planning control being asked for," she said. The new order means that the owners of The Bury will need to apply for planning permission to put up any new fence wall or gate on the land.

They will also require consent to materially alter or replace the existing post and wire fence and five bar gate on the land. TDC issued a temporary order in December 2007 in a bid to protect the special historic and architectural open character of this area of St Osyth. The land is within the village's Conservation Area and next to the historic priory. The Secretary of State was then consulted and the owners and occupiers of the site had the right to object. The decision to confirm the order has now been made.