A wealthy businessman has ignited a furious dispute with his affluent neighbours and the local council after erecting a large electric fence around his multi-million-pound Notting Hill home without the required planning consent.
The Fox Deterrent That Caused a Stir
David Walsh, the founder of the insurance underwriting giant CFC, and his wife, Jyotsna Chadha, purchased their four-storey townhouse in the exclusive West London neighbourhood for £44.5 million in 2023. This year, their property improvements took a controversial turn with the installation of a substantial electric barrier along the perimeter of their palatial home.
Mr Walsh defended the fence, stating it was a necessary measure for 'fox prevention purposes', citing his wife's significant fear of the urban foxes that roam the capital's gardens. However, this explanation has been met with widespread scepticism and anger.
Neighbours Decry 'POW Camp' Fortifications
Officials from Kensington and Chelsea Council and several of the couple's well-heeled neighbours have accused them of effectively 'fortifying their home'. The imposing electric blockade, which runs the length of the property's boundary wall, has been described as making the heritage area resemble a 'POW camp' and posing a 'public safety risk'.
One neighbour told reporters, 'It is a bit silly really, you would expect that sort of fencing for POW camps - it's hardly going to keep out foxes.' Another local resident questioned the extreme measure, suggesting that while foxes are a common London nuisance, the real motivation might be related to 'anti-social behaviour around the Notting Hill Carnival'.
Adding to the peculiarity of the situation, the warning signs on the fence indicate it is designed to contain animals like pigs, horses, and deer, with no mention of foxes. Despite the controversy, one immediate neighbour, identified only as Alex, voiced support, stating, 'We want him to keep it, the foxes dig up our trash too.'
Council Enforcement and Public Safety Fears
When confronted by journalists while charging his £110,000 electric Porsche Taycan, Mr Walsh was defiant. He claimed the council had 'got confused' and looked at the wrong photographs, insisting a 'much more discreet' plan existed.
Nevertheless, the council has taken formal action. In its enforcement papers, the authority declared that the fence, 'by reason of its design, height and prominent siting would read as an unwelcome addition, resulting in the fortification of the site' and harms the character of the conservation area.
The Ladbroke Association, a local heritage group, strongly objected, raising significant public safety concerns. They argued that the electric fence constitutes a hazard, especially with the Notting Hill Carnival bringing over two million people into the vicinity each August. The group emphasised that public safety should be a material planning consideration, referencing the event's history of anti-social behaviour and a recent spike in arrests.
With retrospective planning documents now submitted, the fate of the contentious electric fence rests in the hands of the local planning authority, as the dispute continues to divide one of London's most luxurious streets.
