Concrete barrier in Okehampton ordered to be removed

A Devon landowner has been ordered to move an unauthorised concrete barrier dividing two housing estates in Okehampton.

West Devon Borough Council issued an enforcement notice for the site at Kellands Lane – dubbed “the Berlin wall” by some residents.

The council said the structure was put up suddenly on 15 April, and was causing issues for local residents because it was on a route used to get children to school.

The enforcement notice comes a week after the council issued a temporary stop notice to prevent any further work from taking place to the barrier, which has since been partially removed.

Councillor Caroline Mott, lead member for planning and the built environment, said: “The council has taken action to have the structure removed and hope the inconvenience to the community will be resolved as a matter of urgency.”