Federal agriculture facility flexes authority in fence dispute with east London homeowners

North London residents are contesting the property line with a federal research station that shares the boundary. CTV's Daryl Newcombe reports.

“All it is behind us is just grass. They’ve never used it!” said Mariane Wieder, who is among more than a dozen homeowners in northeast London upset about planned changes to a fence in their backyards.

Wieder and her husband’s house on Idylwood Road backs onto the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC’s) Research and Development Centre, where she says the wooden privacy fence has delineated the properties for 38 years.

It includes several ‘bump-outs’ that encroach onto the federally owned property, a decision that she says was made during consultation between the federal agency and neighbours to protect existing trees when the fence was constructed.

“There was a tree that was over five feet in diameter here, that actually had a massive branch going over the homes,” Wieder explained.

Wieder’s backyard has the largest bump-out, approximately four feet deep and 50 feet long.

AAFC has sent letters to property owners about its intent to replace the deteriorating fence — and enforce the original property line.

The sheds, gardens, and fencing need to be removed by April 30, 2026.

Coun. Peter Cuddy is frustrated the federal agency is being so strict.

“This is a perfect opportunity where common sense really must come into play here,” he said.

Neighbours are also concerned that the wooden privacy fence will be replaced with a chain link fence that could allow headlights from the research facility’s parking lot to shine into their homes.

Wieder says she hasn’t received a clear indication of the height of the fence that will be installed, but one letter suggested it would meet RCMP security standards.

“At this point it seems very draconian,” said Cuddy, who has worked with several local MPs to resolve the matter. “We’re very, very fortunate to have had some very good MPs. We started with Lindsay Mathyssen, and then Kurt Holman, and Peter Fragiskatos.”

Fragiskatos has asked neighbours if they’d be willing to consider a compromise that he can bring forward on their behalf.

“This group is talking about a wooden fence, with adjustments made to take into account the current placement of sheds and gardens and things of that nature. I think the group is acting constructively,” Fragiskatos told CTV News.

Wieder hopes a solution can be found before the deadline.

“We’d like to go back to the identical fence that we have, in the position that it exists today,” she said. “If they want to sell us the property, I am more than happy [to purchase] the property.”