Advice on why my son needs a garden

Hi there,

I am currently living in a council house with no garden.  I have a 13yr old aspie son and 6 yr old twins who have been referred to the ed psych (suspected ADHD although that isn't written on any letters yet).

I want to fence off a bit of land to make a garden but need to apply for permission from the council who say they will only allow this if my kids have a genuine need eg on medical grounds.

I really need the space so the twins can burn off steam outside to give my aspie son peace as he finds the twins overwhelming and stressful (they are very loud n boisterous) especially when he has come back from school.

As I have no formal diagnosis for the twins yet, I would be grateful of any advice as to what info I can put in the letter to help me get the garden we desperately need.  Moving is not an option due to the stress on my aspie son

thanks in advance xxx

Parents
  • Hi, years ago council's could agree to do things like this if there was a proven need through their aids/adaptations budget.  In these austere times I don't know if they still have such a budget and/or whether they've changed their criteria on what they'll fund.  Also I presume the council owns the land you want to enclose?  So, worth talking to your local councillor via email or attending their ward surgery which should be held in their local area.  Also worth talking to your housing officer as they should be well aware of rules around this.  A sticking point might well be that your 2 other children are not yet diagnosed.  However you could well have a case as to how they affect your eldest who does have a diagnosis.  Also if you have a social worker or any other professional involved with your son/family, such as a sympathetic gp, teacher etc, then get them all involved to bolster your case.  It might be worthwhile finding out who your councillor is who is the Chair of children's services + contacting them.  Good luck.  You deserve that fence.

Reply
  • Hi, years ago council's could agree to do things like this if there was a proven need through their aids/adaptations budget.  In these austere times I don't know if they still have such a budget and/or whether they've changed their criteria on what they'll fund.  Also I presume the council owns the land you want to enclose?  So, worth talking to your local councillor via email or attending their ward surgery which should be held in their local area.  Also worth talking to your housing officer as they should be well aware of rules around this.  A sticking point might well be that your 2 other children are not yet diagnosed.  However you could well have a case as to how they affect your eldest who does have a diagnosis.  Also if you have a social worker or any other professional involved with your son/family, such as a sympathetic gp, teacher etc, then get them all involved to bolster your case.  It might be worthwhile finding out who your councillor is who is the Chair of children's services + contacting them.  Good luck.  You deserve that fence.

Children
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