Villagers are furious after their Russian tycoon neighbour won a planning war to build a six-foot metal fence around his £2.9million country estate.
Alexander Mosionzhik’s plans were compared to erecting a ‘Berlin Wall’ and a ‘prison’ in the middle of the countryside by disgruntled locals in up-market Marley Bottom, Buckinghamshire.
They urged Buckinghamshire Council to block the millionaire’s ‘ugly’ scheme, claiming it would ruin their countryside walks and harm wildlife.
But their complaints fell on deaf ears and planning chiefs approved Mr Mosionzhik’s application this week after he claimed it was to protect his country pile, called Wymers Estate, from anti-social behaviour.
One resident told : ‘There is no vandalism, there is hardly anybody there.
‘Are teenagers likely to go to that effort of walking more than 100 yards?
‘It just stinks. They [the council] are not doing anything for Marlow up there.’
Locals living in Marlow Bottom, Buckinghamshire, have slammed Alexander Mosionzhik (pictured) for wanting to erect the security barrier around his recently purchased £2.85million property
Mr Mosionzhik is currently renovating the property (pictured) on his sprawling £2.9m estate in Marlow Bottom in Buckinghamshire
Mr Mosionzhik made his millions in business and was formerly chairman of the board of directors at Nafta Moskva, a Russian oil trading company.
His recently acquired estate features a grand home with eight bedrooms, four reception rooms, a garden, an outdoor swimming pool and 30 acres of private grounds.
It also has a secondary lodge which has two further bedrooms, two reception rooms, garages, stables and a barn.
The tycoon submitted the plans in November but had been originally forced to scale them back after 26 objections from angry locals.
He had proposed to build a six-foot metal palisade security fence but had instead opted for a chain-link fence to appease the villagers, planning documents show.
The planning application added: ‘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.’
Architect Eleanor Smith had said Mr Mosionzhik was ‘happy to change the appearance of the fencing to alleviate any concerns that the locals may have’.
It was claimed that representative of the businessman stated that ‘the fence will be installed on the inner side of hedges set back further within the property than previously’.
Villager Julie Sparks lodged a further objection after the revised plans were submitted on December 28.
She complained there had already been a ‘shocking and hideous’ decimation of that area of natural beauty and warned the request for the high fence suggested ‘further devastation can be expected’.
Mr Mosionzhik said the proposed wall will protect his land in Marley Bottom, Bucks from ‘anti-social’ behaviour but locals are not impressed
Julie Sparks (pictured) are up in arms at the plans after they were approved by Buckinghamshire Council this week
Speaking to she said: ‘All the locals walk up there. It literally feels like being in the middle of nowhere. You are just lost in the countryside.
‘That particular area I used to call the ‘secret fields’ because you had to go through the hedgerows and the trees to get to it’.
In nearby Marlow Bottom, local resident David Lawrence said it was not surprising for the plan to be approved.
‘He is an oligarch, so what do you expect. Let’s face facts. It is a matter of time.
‘There is no vandalism, nobody vandalises around here. It is just because it is an old house.’
Another resident, who did not wish to be named, added: ‘In some ways, it is a good thing because he is hopefully repairing it, but he could have just used a smaller bit of the land at the back.’
Richard Sherwin, the chairman of Save Marlow’s Green Belt, a community group, said he was disappointed with the decision to approve the fence.
‘This is a 30-acres fence in the green belt’, he said. ‘It is not a small fence around someone’s garden.
‘A two-metre high fence like this over 30 acres is going to have a significant effect on the wildlife.
‘This area is the Green Belt. It is teeming with fantastic wildlife that roams free through this estate and has done for many years. A two-metre high fence stops wildlife getting through.
‘It is similar to what you would see around a tennis court.’
Marlow Bottom is a village in rural Buckinghamshire and locals are furious at the idea their country walks could be ruined by the fence
Villagers complaints fell on deaf ears when Buckinghamshire Council approved the fence
In a decision notice, Steve Bambrick, service director for Planning & Environment at Buckinghamshire Council, said the council was satisfied that, provided the development was carried out ‘strictly in accordance with the details’ shown in the plans, the fence would be lawful.
A representative of Alexander Mosionzhik said he ‘regretted the controversy’ surround his plans to renew a ‘dilapidated fence’.
They said: ‘Whilst it is clear this has upset some people, we have spoken with a number of local people who support our plans to restore and properly maintain the property and land.
‘We are pleased that Buckinghamshire Council has now granted approval for the application.
‘This land has no public access or rights of way, and the permitted fence will not obstruct any publicly accessible areas or rights of way.
‘The fence style, approved in collaboration with the council, will be similar to others found locally and entirely appropriate for a rural setting.
‘It’s worth also noting that planning enforcement officers have conducted multiple visits, prompted by reports from individuals in the area, finding no violations or irregularities at the property.’