Pensioner Gary Flowers has put up a row of brightly-coloured signs with toy monkeys and model Laurel and Hardy characters with speech bubbles peering out of his bedroom window.<br /><br />The unusual protest is to demonstrate his disdain over his council's lack of action over the 2.5 metre fence which he claims is a "road safety hazard".<br /><br />Retired plumber Mr Flowers, 68, says the row of monkeys symbolises the children at risk from the lack of visibilty as a result of the fence, as they sit alongside flashing lights and multiple signs all of which are passed by thousands of motorists on the busy road.<br /><br />Mr Flowers says any fence next to a highway which is more than one metre high must have planning permission.<br /><br />He said: "The fence went up two years ago. It's too big and unsightly, but the main thing is it's stopping visibility for anyone pulling out of the drive onto the road.<br /><br />"If you're sitting on the drive there's no perception of pedestrians or<br />oncoming cars.<br /><br />"This road is on a school route and near a leisure park so there are lots of kids walking about.<br /><br />"One schoolgirl came up to me the other day saying, 'you're right, I think it's dangerous'."<br /><br />Mr Flowers has had the signs up since Christmas protesting at the fence in Dewsbury, West Yorks.<br /><br />He added: "I put the dolls up to symbolise the danger to the children. I also put up model Laurel and Hardy characters in my window. The speech buibbles said, ' this is a crime'.<br /><br />"It was meant to put a bit of humour into it, although the situation itself isn't funny."<br /><br />He added: "I don't have a problem with my neighbour. If his burglar alarm went off I'd happily go round to check everything.<br /><br />"But I've got to think about the safety of the kids. I just want the<br />council to get off the fence."<br /><br />Dad-of-two Gary said he initially sent a letter to his neighbour explaining the issue and that he would be taking action.<br /><br />But the fence has remained up, despite his vehement protests.<br /><br />Signs on a board outside say "Fence failures all standards", "Officials refuse to do their job crime in itself" and "Degrading urban amenity".<br /><br />"He came round straight after I sent the letter and was pretty angry. He's determined to keep it up."<br /><br />Gary has been protesting ever since the fence went up, and has even handed out letters explaining the issue to residents in the area.<br /><br />The neighbour, who was approached but declined to comment on the ongoing protest, has since applied for retrospective planning permission which has been refused.<br /><br />This is now being reviewed.
