A Russian businessman who is seeking planning permission to build a metal fence around his Buckinghamshire estate has reassured concerned neighbours that it would be ‘environmentally and visually appropriate’ for the area.

Alexander Mosionzhik, former chairman of the Russian investment firm Nafta Moskva, applied to Buckinghamshire Council for planning permission to construct a two-metre-high metal fence and gates around his newly acquired country estate, Wymers in Marlow Bottom at the beginning of November.

In the intervening weeks, villagers have criticised the proposal for its potential incursion onto popular bridleways and its visual impact on the area. Nik Valiris noted on December 19 that 300m of hedgerows near the estate had already been removed by contractors working for Mr Mosionzhik. 

He said: “I appreciate there is a need for scrub clearance, however removing these long-established hedgerows is an ecological area of concern for the local area, without apparent consideration.”

In a letter posted to several residents in Marlow Bottom on Tuesday, December 19, written by Alexander Nicholson, Director at the PR company JBP Associates on behalf of Mr Mosionzhik, the latter acknowledged these concerns and sought to reassure neighbours of the intention behind the fence proposal.

The letter, seen by the Free Press, described the Wymers estate as “in a poor state of repair” due to a long period of vacancy, several break-ins and an arson attack, and stated an aim to begin renovations “to bring it up to modern standards”.

It continued: “Our first priority is to secure the property, as, due to its dilapidation, it is not a safe environment for those without the correct PPE.

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“You may be aware of the recent application to replace a broken-down fence with a more secure option. We have also started work to restore the land, which has become very overgrown.

“I understand there are concerns that the fence will impact existing rights of way or land not within our ownership. I want to reassure you that this will not be the case. The fence will follow the line of the existing fence, entirely within the boundaries of the fields. It is proposed to replace an existing broken-down fence which has fallen into extreme disrepair and been broken in many places.”

Mr Nicholson also assured villagers that the installation would be set further back within the property where it intersected with existing bridleways.

He added that the pruning works currently underway on the estate were to the end of promoting “an overall vitality of the land for years to come”, writing: “We have appointed very knowledgeable landscape designers, who will ensure the land is greatly improved, balanced and corresponds to the highest standards.

“Our intention is to replace the existing fence with something that appropriately responds to the environmental, security and visual requirements of this location.”

Locals previously described the proposed structure as “ugly, austere, prison-like and intimidating”, with Robert Browning, who lived in Marlow Bottom for over 35 years before retiring to Somerset, likening it to “a Berlin Wall in our village”.