Homeowner ordered to tear down 'overbearing' wooden bridge he built to climb up his steep garden - after inspectors called it 'unneighbourly'

By SHANNON MCGUIGAN, NEWS REPORTER Published: 12:15, 24 June 2026 | Updated: 12:16, 24 June 2026 A homeowner has been ordered to tear down an 'overbearing' wooden bridge he built to tackle steep slopes in the garden of his Welsh Valleys home. Ben Davies, 25, said the large timber structure, which was built 2.7 metres above a private lane between neighbouring homes, was a practical solution to the incline.  But he lost the planning row after Torfaen council ruled the structure in Abersychan, near Pontypool, was 'unneighbourly'.   In November 2025, council planners denied permission because they believed it would negatively impact the neighbours. An independent planning inspector agreed it would 'have a harmful effect on the character and appearance' of the property and nearby residents' living conditions. Mr Davies argued the bridge had been built to replace an old stone staircase that ran through his steep, terraced garden to the street above.    He also insisted the staircase and supporting platform were 'a proportionate response to a constrained, steeply sloping site with long-established changes in ground level.' Mr Davies also maintained that the 'overbearing' structure would not harm the area or neighbouring homes. After the resident appealed the decision, independent inspector Nicola Gulley visited the privately constructed platform and staircase on Manor Road. Ben Davies , 25, said the large timber structure, which was built 2.7 metres above a private lane between neighbouring homes, was a practical solution to the incline But he lost the planning row after Torfaen council ruled the structure in Abersychan, near Pontypool, was 'unneighbourly' An independent planning inspector agreed it would 'have a harmful effect on the character and appearance' of the property and nearby residents' living conditions She agreed with the council's assessment of the bridge, which was dubbed by villagers as 'more like the bridge of size than the bridge of sighs'.   'I must say most people give a huge sigh or moan when they see it,' one local said.  A resident described the structure as 'dam ugly [sic]', before asking: 'Why are people so inconsiderate to their neighbours... be nice. ' 'It would put the Great Wall of China to shame,' another added. 'They must have used a small Brazilian Rainforest to build that lot!' The original Bridge of Sighs, to which the bridge and platform have been compared, is a limestone bridge in Venice, Italy, and was constructed in 1600. The bridge crosses the Rio di Palazzo, connecting the Doge's Palace to the New Prison.  The name refers to the legend that prisoners would sigh as they caught a final view of Venice before being taken down to their cells.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.