A multi-millionaire businessman has been compelled to remove an electric fence he installed around his multi-million-pound Notting Hill mansion, following pressure from the local council and affluent neighbours who branded it an unsightly fortification.
The Fox Deterrent That Caused a Furore
David Walsh, founder of the insurance underwriting giant CFC, and his wife Jyotsna Chadha, erected the substantial barrier around the perimeter of their £44.5 million palatial home. The couple argued the measure was solely for fox prevention, citing the wife's significant fear of the animals. In retrospective planning documents, Mr Walsh stated the fence was 'intended for fox prevention purposes.'
However, the installation quickly drew criticism. The Kensington and Chelsea Council, alongside the Ladbroke Association community group and several residents in the exclusive area, objected. Officials claimed the fence's design and prominent siting resulted in the 'fortification of the site' and harmed the character of the Notting Hill conservation area.
Spikes and Scorn: The Aftermath
Succumbing to external pressure, the couple replaced the electric fence with metal spikes along their boundary walls. Yet, this solution has proven ineffective and messy. Neighbours reported to the Daily Mail that the spikes frequently fall off and offer little defence against the area's cunning foxes.
One local resident expressed sympathy, stating: 'It's a serious issue round here... The foxes come and dig everything, there are paw prints everywhere and poo has been found on my front door.' Another predicted the terrified wife might prompt the couple to move entirely.
The debate split local opinion. While some ridiculed the electric fence online as a 'stupid idea' and a potential fire hazard, others understood the motivation. Mail on Sunday columnist Alexandra Shulman revealed she contracted scabies from a fox that entered her home, voicing sympathy for the couple's plight.
Safety Concerns and Carnival Clashes
The Ladbroke Association raised specific public safety concerns, particularly regarding the annual Notting Hill Carnival. The event brings over two million people to the streets just feet from the conservation area every August. The group argued the electric fence posed a hazard in an area where large crowds congregate, a point they felt planning officers wrongly dismissed.
A spokesperson for Kensington and Chelsea Council confirmed: 'The Council received a retrospective planning application for an electric fence which was refused. The Applicant has the right to appeal the decision. We are considering any necessary enforcement proceedings.'
When approached earlier this month, Mr Walsh remained defiant, insisting his wife's fear was justification enough and claiming the council had reviewed incorrect photographs, with a more discreet plan available. Neighbours, however, were less convinced, with one comparing the fencing to that of a 'POW camp'. The saga of the £44.5 million mansion and its battle against urban foxes continues, now with a seemingly failing set of metal spikes.
