Couple's 'horror' after school builds six-metre climbing tower over backyard
Couple Alan and Anita claim they weren't consulted before the tall climbing frame was built.
A couple whose home borders a school say they live their lives "not looking out the windows" after an almost six-metre high climbing tower was built just beyond their back fence.
Alan and Anita claim people gaze into their homes at all hours of the day and night since Hutt Intermediate School, situated in the Wellington region of New Zealand, erected the playground equipment last year, The New Zealand Herald reported.
The couple say they spend most of their day with the blinds down after incidents of climbers heckling and throwing items at the residents, with people often staring into their two-storey home which they have lived in for over 21 years.
"We live our lives not looking out these windows," Anita told The Herald. "You stand at your breakfast bar buttering your toast, and next thing you look up and there’s someone looking at you."
Anita also believes she saw a climber, who she believes was in his 50s, watching her. After she spotted the man he allegedly scurried away.
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Residents claim school 'doesn't care' about their privacy
Alan claims he emailed the school about the decision after the couple were allegedly not notified or consulted prior to building.
"They don’t care, they just batted us off," he said, saying he felt "abject horror" when the tower was first erected.
Another incident involving the school allegedly ended with a staff member saying they would "get our friendly children to stop waving at you" after the couple complained over the phone. Yahoo News have reached out to Hutt Intermediate School for comment on these claims.
Education department says tower will eventually move
Alan and Anita admit they have had sleepless nights stressing about the impact the climbing tower will have on their property's value and the effect it's having on their privacy at home.
The couple reportedly escalated the issue to New Zealand's Ministry of Education who said the equipment will be relocated when the school undergoes development, but no date has been set and relocation fees could cost more than $90,000.
"We haven’t once had an apology," Anita said.
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