A Russian businessman has angered residents in a small English village over plans to build a two-metre metal fence around his estate.
An architectural firm submitted an application for the fence to Buckinghamshire County Council on behalf of Alexander Mosionzhik on November 9.
The application said the “metal palisade security fence and gates” would be built along the estate’s “entire site boundary”.
The firm which submitted the application told the council that such measures were necessary because “the site has been subject to antisocial behaviour in the past, including an arson attack”.
Marlow Bottom in Buckinghamshire
Part of the Wymers estate’s grounds lies next to properties in the village of Marlow Bottom.
A total of 26 objections have been made against Mosionzhik’s plans, Buckinghamshire County Council’s planning website has claimed.
Marlow Bottom resident Robert Browning, who lived in the village for more than 35 years before retiring to Somerset, compared the fence to the construction of a “Berlin Wall in our village”.
Laurence Ward also told The Times that the proposed fence was “ugly, austere, prison-like and intimidating”.
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There are particular concerns about the impact on the visible countryside setting, animals living in the woodland and the two bridleways used by walkers, horse riders and cyclists.
A council official, who was tasked to examine the impact of the proposal on rights of way, confirmed in his report that he had concerns the fence would “not adhere to the established, historic widths of these bridleways”.
He said a “loss of public amenity” was possible unless the council received more detailed plans about exactly where the fence was to be built.
Russian news agency Interfax claimed Mosionzhik was formerly chairman of the board of directors at the investment firm Nafta Moskv.
Locals living in Marlow Bottom (pictured) have said that the metal fence will be an 'eyesore'
Wymers has approximately 30 acres of private grounds, including an ancient woodland.
The main property contains eight bedrooms, four receptions and an outdoor swimming poor.
The estate was valued in exceed of £2.85million when it was last listed for sale.
There is also a lodge, garages, stables and a barn.