A resident has been instructed to dismantle a large wooden staircase named the “bridge of sighs” in his backyard. Ben Davies, 25, constructed the towering timber structure to address the steep inclines in his Welsh valleys residence. The staircase featured a bridge-like platform elevated 2.7m (8.8ft) above a private lane connecting neighboring properties.
Following a planning dispute, an inspector deemed the staircase “unneighborly” in Abersychan, south Wales. The independent planning inspector concluded that it would negatively impact the property’s character and nearby residents’ living conditions.
Mr. Davies explained that the new structure was intended to replace an old stone staircase that traversed his hilly garden to the street above. He argued that the staircase and platform were a suitable solution for the challenging, sloped terrain with long-standing elevation changes.
Despite Mr. Davies’ assertions that the structure would not disrupt the area or neighboring homes, independent inspector Nicola Gulley concurred with the assessment by Torfaen County Borough Council. Ms. Gulley stated that the proposed development would have adverse effects on the appeal dwelling’s character, appearance, and the neighboring property’s residents.
Local residents criticized the construction, likening it to the “bridge of size” rather than the “bridge of sighs.” They expressed discontent, with one remarking on the unsightliness of the structure and its impact on sunlight and views for neighbors.
The original Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy, is a renowned enclosed limestone bridge connecting the Doge’s Palace to the New Prison. The name symbolizes the sighs of prisoners as they glimpsed the outside world for the last time.