A homeowner in Dorset has sparked outrage among neighbours after replacing a wooden boundary fence with a massive concrete structure that some have compared to the Berlin Wall. Ken Lynch erected a 75-foot-long grey wall along the side of his detached house on Sandbanks Road in the Lilliput area of Poole, Dorset. The imposing wall, which stands over seven feet tall, has been described as an eyesore by local residents.
Property transformation
The new wall is part of a broader transformation of the property, which originally began as a bungalow with a low brick wall. The previous owner obtained planning permission to convert the bungalow into a two-storey house with a large rear extension, increasing its value to £1,000,000. A temporary wooden slatted fence was initially erected along the boundary, but it was later replaced with the permanent grey wall, much to the dismay of nearby residents.
Retrospective planning application
Because of the wall's size, it requires planning permission, and Mr Lynch has had to apply for it retrospectively. Neighbours have submitted letters of objection to BCP Council, urging them to refuse permission. If the council denies the application, Mr Lynch may be forced to demolish the wall.
Resident Annabel Hobson, a 67-year-old retired accounts clerk, expressed her horror upon seeing the wall. 'I walk my dog past the wall every day, and it looks like the Berlin Wall. There used to be a wooden slatted fence, which was nice on the eye, but they have replaced it with an eyesore,' she said. 'When you walk past the wall, it feels like it is leaning on you, and the path has narrowed. It looks like they are trying to barricade themselves in, and it is not in keeping with the area.'
Ms Hobson noted that the neighbourhood's deeds of covenant require walls to be in keeping with the area's character, making the large stone construction even more shocking. 'I assumed they had planning permission, so when I learnt they were applying retrospectively, I was shocked,' she added. 'I do hope planners will ask for it to be taken down and permission is not granted, as in the future, other property owners will feel they too can erect walls to barricade themselves in.'
Another neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, described the wall as 'horrible' to look at and a downgrade from the old wooden fence. He stated that the wall's height makes it 'visually intrusive and overly dominant in the street and creates an enclosed and oppressive appearance.'
