Residents in a Buckinghamshire village have hit out at plans to construct a 2-metre metal fence around a country estate, branding the proposal ‘ugly’ and ‘prison-like’.

Alexander Mosionzhik applied to Buckinghamshire Council’s planning portal on November 9 requesting a certificate of lawfulness for the proposed construction of a 2-metre-high metal palisade security fence and gates around Wymers, a country estate with over 30 acres of woodland on Burroughs Grove Hill in Marlow Bottom.

In the application document, Mr Mosionzhik’s agent cited security concerns as the motivation for the construction, writing: “The site has been subject to antisocial behaviour in the past including an arson attack.

“With this in mind, the new owner is keen to erect this fence to improve the security of the dwelling and associated land including ancient woodland.”

Mr Mosionzhik recently purchased the property on the proposed site alongside adjacent land.

However, Marlow Bottom residents have criticised the proposal, especially for its incursion upon previously designated popular foot and bridle paths, with twelve submitting objection comments to the planning portal.

Laurence Ward, who lives on Highview Close, described the proposed fence as “ugly, austere, prison-like and intimidating”, adding: “It will be a complete eyesore all around the Wymers estate. Such a fence is only suitable for an industrial area and has no place in an area of outstanding natural beauty.”

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Robert Browning, who lived in Marlow Bottom for over 35 years before retiring to Somerset, likened the fence to the construction of a “Berlin Wall in our village”.

Debra Manfield-Clarke, who lives on Hill Farm Road said the planning proposal’s marked boundaries would “block a public right of way” and Mark Fulton, of Ragmans Close, added that it would “adversely affect all the wildlife which cross or use the field day and night”.

Paul Tremelling, of Ragmans Close, wrote: “There is no need or precedent for demarcation of property in the English countryside using security fencing. This is done using hedges and stock fencing which already exist at the property.

“To grant this permission would produce a permanent and exceedingly dangerous precedent for the erection of highly unsightly fences whenever and wherever a new landowner wishes.”

Stephen Pack, also of Ragmans Close added: “This type of industrial, commercial fencing has no place in a highly visible countryside setting. It is an eyesore which is why it is typically only used on industrial estates.

“The woodland is home to deer, fox and a plethora of other wildlife, all of which rely on transit between the fields and woodland. This fencing would bring direct harm to that wildlife."