Ben Davies had rigged up the “overbearing” tower of timber to tackle the steep slopes in the back garden of his home in Abersychan, south Wales, but neighbours are unhappy
A homeowner has been ordered to tear down a giant “bridge of sighs” wooden staircase in his back garden.
Ben Davies, 25, rigged up the “overbearing” tower of timber to tackle the steep slopes in the garden of his Welsh valleys home. It included a bridge-like platform built 2.7m (8.8ft) above a private lane between neighbouring homes.
And he lost a planning battle after an inspector branded it “uneighbourly” in Abersychan, south Wales. An independent planning inspector ruled it would “have a harmful effect on the character and appearance” of the property and nearby residents’ living conditions.
Mr Davies said the new structure had been designed to replace an old stone staircase that ran through his steep, terraced garden to the street above.
He argued the staircase and supporting platform was “a proportionate response to a constrained, steeply sloping site with long-established changes in ground level.”
He also “maintained they would not harm the area or neighbouring homes.” Independent inspector Nicola Gulley visited the partially-built structure at his home on Manor Road and agreed with the assessment from Labour-led Torfaen County Borough Council.
Ms Gulley said: “The proposed development would have a harmful effect on the character and appearance of the appeal dwelling and on the living conditions of the occupiers of the neighbouring property.”
It was dubbed “more like the bridge of size than the bridge of sighs” by villagers. One said: “I must say most people give a hugh sigh or moan when they see it.” The original Bridge of Sighs is the famous 1600 enclosed limestone bridge in Venice, Italy.
The bridge crosses the Rio di Palazzo, connecting the Doge’s Palace to the New Prison. The name reflects the legendary sighs of prisoners catching their final glimpses of the outside world.
Locals blasted the build with one saying: “It’s so dam ugly, I would hate to have that as my view. Why are people so inconsiderate to their neighbours. Be nice.”
Another added: “Size of the fencing I wouldn’t like it must block the neighbours sunlight.” Another wrote: “It would put the Great Wall of China to shame, they must have used a small Brazilian Rainforest to build that lot!”
