Oil and gas boss ordered to take down fence built without permission in Aberdeen
14.10.2023 - 17:51
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
An oil and gas boss has been ordered to remove a fence outside a property by Aberdeen City Council after it was built without permission
David Lawrie, the former director of BP Exploration (Delta), had built the controversial barrier around a patch of ground behind his home at Craigden in Countesswells. He argued it was needed to stop vandals from accessing the site, where they had previously damaged trees and fences, set fires and left litter lying everywhere.
Mr Lawrie even bought the 781 square metre area back in 2019 in a bid to tackle the problem himself. After informing Aberdeen City Council of his plan to fence off the ground, he didn't hear anything back so went ahead with the project.
A 1.8-metre timber fence was then installed around the site, and the issue seemed to have been solved. However, the local authority contacted the oil and gas executive last summer claiming he was using the ground as a private garden.
The claim was shot down by Mr Lawrie, who informed the council that the area was being used as a "community garden" by himself and his neighbours. A locked gate had been installed on the fence, but all Craigden residents were given access to it.
Mr Lawrie lodged a planning application to ensure the land could be legally changed from public open space to private community use. He even admitted he would be happy to remove the fence once trees on the site had matured and were less vulnerable to damage.
The city council's local review body discussed the proposal on October 13 and visited the site beforehand to allow them to see the patch of ground in question before making a final decision on the matter. Councillor Emma Farquhar was minded to allow the fence to stay in place for a temporary five year period to
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