Our neighbour built an ‘illegal’ holiday home – drunk tourists will ruin our peaceful street… so we took drastic action
HOMEOWNERS have accused a neighbour of building an illegal holiday home and have taken drastic action to stop drunk tourists from ruining their street.
An investigation has been launched after a boathouse was put up beside a lake in a Norfolk beauty spot, angering neighbours.
Locals fear the timbered building on stilts will become a rowdy “party house” in the area where Scandanavian-style wooden homes are often used as weekend and holiday lets.
Many of the properties cost more than £1,000 a weekend to rent.
But residents say their peace and quiet is often shattered by noisy party-goers using outdoor saunas and hot tubs until the early hours.
The latest newbuild near the shore of Pentney Lakes, near King’s Lynn in west Norfolk, has infuriated neighbours.
The main home at the centre of the controversy – estimated to be worth more than £500,000 when completed – belongs to developer Mantis Zuke and his wife Zolanta.
King’s Lynn West Norfolk Borough Council has now taken enforcement action against Mrs Zuke after planners refused permission for the boathouse that is almost completed.
Officials ruled the boathouse was “excessively high and out of keeping with the harmony of its surroundings”.
An enforcement notice was issued ordering Mrs Zuke to “remove the structure and return the site to its former condition” by the beginning of December.
But she has appealed against the notice and the row will now be considered by the Planning Inspectorate.
One objector said: “It’s a bogus boathouse – it’s nowhere near the water and has no access to the lake.
“It will simply become another holiday let.”
Another resident on the 100-property site where 60 per cent of homeowners live full-time, said: “It is a flagrant slap in the face for the council – they have just been ignored.
“This is a lovely place to stay or live – more than half the residents live here full-time because it is so tranquil and peaceful, until the party-goers arrive.
“Then it can be bedlam until the early hours.
“Because this place is so incredibly quiet and peaceful most of the time, the slightest noise can be heard – so when they play music loudly everyone can here it as well as the shouting and singing.”
A lot of people are not very happy.
Land-owner Bill Atkins
The land on which the lakeside community is built belongs to businessman Bill Atkins.
He said: “Thirty years ago the place was just an old gravel pit.
“There are now more than 100 properties here, most of them freehold.
“People should really only stay for 28 days maximum a year but 80 per cent of the people now own their freehold and a lot of people now live there permanently.
“But Mr Zuke has broken all the rules – the first thing he should have done is ask my company for permission.
“He knows full well that what he is doing is not right but insists he is just being picked on.
“The boathouse was built without permission and a lot of people are not very happy about it.”
Next-door neighbour Ian Reed described the boathouse as a “monstrosity”, adding: “This is a towering building masquerading as a boathouse.
“We will lose all our privacy as the building is very close to our boundary.
“We understand this construction has been built without planning permission and it looks completely out of character.”
And David Allan said: “This proposed plan of a ‘boathouse with storage’ is bogus – the property will be rented out as a holiday let.”
The structure has also upset water skiers who use the lake.
Colin Carter-Harrold said: “We are objecting to any access to the water for this property.
“We have fast ski boats running around this lake and we can see major health and safety issues.
“No swimming or entering the water is allowed for any craft that is not a ski boat belonging to a British Water Ski-affiliated member – and so fully-insured and driver-tested.
“The council should not allow this or they could be liable for serious injury or death, not us.
“This is ultra-important as this is going to be a rental property so there will be very little control of people entering the danger zone.”
Site-owner Mr Atkins has now written to council officials, telling them that without planning permission he would not allow a ramp to be built allowing access to any boats – citing “health and safety issues”.
Efforts to contact Mr Zuke have been unsuccessful.
Elsewhere in Norfolk, residents in picturesque village Saxlingham Nethergate complained last month about “nightmare neighbours” hiring out a mansion for “Ibiza-style” parties.
There has also been a row in Norfolk seaside town Brancaster over a proposed new development prompting fears of extra holiday homes.
Second home-owners have caused concern in another Norfolk town Burnham Market which has been dubbed “Chelsea-on-Sea”.