A homeowner in the affluent Lilliput area of Poole, Dorset, has sparked outrage among neighbours after replacing a wooden fence with a towering grey concrete wall that locals have likened to the Berlin Wall. The 75ft-long, 7ft-tall structure now runs along the side of a detached house on Sandbanks Road, one of the most exclusive seaside locations in the country, where average house prices start at £700,000.
Eyesore or Security?
The wall, erected by new owner Ken Lynch, forms part of a larger transformation of the property, which was previously a charming bungalow with a low brick wall and vibrant herbaceous borders. The previous owner secured permission to convert the bungalow into a two-storey house with a rear extension, now valued at £1m. A temporary wooden slatted fence was initially installed but has since been replaced with the permanent grey structure.
However, the wall is so substantial that it requires planning permission, which Mr Lynch has applied for retrospectively. Neighbours have submitted letters of objection to BCP Council, urging them to reject the application, which could force the wall to be torn down.
Neighbour Reactions
Retired accounts clerk Annabel Hobson, 67, a local resident, described her shock upon first seeing the wall. She said: "I walk my dog past it every day and it looks like the Berlin Wall. The previous wooden fence was nice, but this is an eyesore. When you walk past, it feels like it's leaning on you, and the path has narrowed. It appears they are barricading themselves in, and it doesn't fit the area's character."
Another anonymous neighbour called the wall 'horrible' and a downgrade from the original fence. Richard Spragg added that the wall's height makes it "visually intrusive and overly dominant, creating an enclosed and oppressive appearance."
Mr Lynch has been approached for comment but has not yet responded. The fate of the wall now rests with BCP Council's planning committee.
