A resident has been instructed to remove a large wooden staircase resembling a “bridge of sighs” from his backyard. Ben Davies, 25, erected the towering structure to navigate the steep terrain in his Welsh valleys property. The staircase featured a bridge-like platform positioned 2.7m (8.8ft) above a private lane connecting neighboring houses.

Following a planning dispute, an inspector deemed the structure “unneighborly” in Abersychan, south Wales. The independent planning inspector concluded that it would negatively impact the property’s character and the living conditions of nearby residents.

Mr. Davies explained that the new staircase was intended to replace an old stone staircase that traversed his sloping garden to the street above. He argued that the staircase and platform were a suitable solution for the challenging, steep landscape with long-established ground level changes.

Despite Mr. Davies’ claims that the structure would not disrupt the area or neighboring properties, independent inspector Nicola Gulley concurred with Torfaen County Borough Council’s assessment. Ms. Gulley stated that the proposed development would detract from the appeal dwelling’s character and appearance, as well as affect the neighboring property’s residents.

Local villagers criticized the construction, likening it to the “bridge of size” rather than the “bridge of sighs.” Some residents expressed dissatisfaction with the structure’s appearance and its impact on the surroundings, highlighting concerns about aesthetics and sunlight obstruction.

The original Bridge of Sighs, located in Venice, Italy, is a renowned enclosed limestone bridge connecting the Doge’s Palace to the New Prison. The name references the supposed sighs of prisoners as they glimpsed the outside world for the last time.

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