A Winterbourne Bassett couple have accused a landowner of erecting a prison camp-style fence on the boundary of their home out of spite because they were among the many villagers who objected to his application to build 12 houses on land next to their converted chapel.
Count Konrad Goess-Saurau ordered the construction of the 6ft high-tensile steel wire fence and allegedly told Phil and Lesley Catling it had been put up because they objected to his £1m plans for the site next to their Wiltshire home.
The couple claim he said the fence would come down if they agreed not to object to future applications for the site. Kennet council turned down his application in April on several grounds, including the impact on the landscape. The count was unable to comment.
References: The Times (Compact) 28/09/04 page 22, The Daily Telegraph 28/09/04 page 11
