I hate my neighbour’s ‘extreme’ shed and pool – this is Essex not Switzerland
LOCALS have slammed an Alpine-style ski chalet and swimming pool built by a DIY fan in his back garden.
Alex Dodman, 37, demolished his run down shed and created a lodge that wouldn’t look out of place beside the snowy slopes of Val-d’Isère.
But some of the married dad’s neighbours are less than impressed with the crazy construction – complete with a pool surrounded by artificial grass – in the traditional Essex market town of Saffron Walden.
Local landlord Geoff, maintaining his property a few doors down, would only give his first name, but said: “You can see it from the road. I wouldn’t do something like that.
“I’m more for the traditional black barn and white window frames type of thing, or a proper shed.”
Geoff, who has lived in the town for 39 years, added: “If something’s designed by an architect then I think it’s okay.
“But there’s weird stuff being built in the town.
“There used to be a pub called The Sun Inn, and if you look in the car park, they’ve built a house on stilts.
“I mean, is that in keeping? There are some strange designs.”
Anna Rubiku, 41, who lives nearby, said: “Saffron Walden is a town that has amazing buildings that have showcased British architecture for centuries.
“It’s a shame that new buildings don’t incorporate that, so we can continue to celebrate our traditions.”
And Graham Marshall, 66, whose son and family live in the same road as NHS worker Mr Dodson, said: “It all looks great and good fun but I’m not sure about what looks like artificial grass.”
But the wacky creation had divided opinion, with Graham’s son Paul, 37, backing his neighbour’s Alps-style cabin as the perfect spot to enjoy some après-ski.
He said: “It’s taking the bloke’s shed to another level.
“Traditionally, a shed is a man’s haven and escape – and he’s made one hell of an escape.
“Every bloke will be jealous of it – the craftsmanship alone is impressive.”
Paul added: “Just think of the possibilities of fun it gives his family but also the good times it will give him and his mates – beer included I’m sure.”
Mr Dodman’s next-door neighbour Sarah Fitzgibbon, 83, also backed the unorthodox design, telling The Sun Online: “I think it’s brilliant. He’s worked so hard back there. It looks lovely.
“Anything he does is good. He built a Wendy house as well – a big one.
“They’re a lovely couple with two lovely children.”
Fraser Parry, 29, a wedding photographer and graphic designer, who lives the other side of Mr Dodman’s property, said: “It’s a nice thing. I guess it’s one of those, ‘Why not give it a go!’
“For somebody who doesn’t know what they’re doing, it’s quite a nice thing to actually put your mind too.
“I think it’s really good, it’s a nice addition to the house, and again, why shouldn’t people have a go.”
He added: “Everyone’s taste is different – I’ve just painted my dining room bright yellow.
“Other people might hate yellow, and wouldn’t do it.”
Local dad-of-two Gordon Leonard, 44, said: “I think it’s nice. Everyone except me seems to go skiing in Walden, so it’s a good fit.”
Mr Dodman knocked down his old garden shed, which was once an unused home gym.
The chalet took four months to build at a cost of just £2,500, with materials from B&Q, builders’ merchants and freebies from Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace.
He said: “I joined a local gym and the shed just became a dumping ground.
“There are big fir trees around and having a big, ugly shed down there looked horrible.
“The ski chalet idea came from Scandinavian countries with A-frame buildings and trees all around.
“I thought it would look so nice, and I had quite a lot of space up there with the decking so we could have lots of room and sit out by the pool.
“It’s a much better use of the space than a big, ugly shed.”
He said the A-frame was “the most difficult part” and that he spent “a lot of time working out Pythagoras’ theorem”.