RESIDENTS of an exclusive Kingswood estate are squaring up to Middle Eastern royalty over plans to surround houses with fencing and barbed wire.
A row has erupted after mystery buyers swooped in at the eleventh hour and snapped up four multimillion-pound mansions in Kingswood Warren Park, gazumping home-buyers who were close to exchanging contracts.
The elite family believed to be behind the purchase also bought two homes in Beech Drive and the road leading to houses in Hamilton Place, leaving residents who were hoping to own it themselves fuming.
Now the buyers want planning permission to install 6ft fences around the six homes and seal off an access road where neighbours should have right of way.
More than 20 objections have been lodged, with one resident claiming it would create a "stockade-style enclosure".
Janine Connick, secretary of Hamilton Place Residents' Association, who understands the newcomers are Middle Eastern with royal connections and want the homes for the Epsom Derby, said: "The worst part is it's such a lovely setting and they just want to cut it in half. It's not what was intended for Kingswood Warren. If that was to happen it would be a crying shame."
Fences and barbed wire have already been installed without planning permission, while approval is also sought to take down the internal timber fencing between the cluster of houses.
Mrs Connick said: "The issue is they think they could do what they like, there's no decency about it."
Jacky Saunders, an intermediary for the buyers, described the residents as "small-minded".
"I'm really surprised they have acted like this," she said. "It's jealousy that we bought six houses. I expected them to be kind greeting us, not this."
She added she would not have bought the road had she known developers Octagon were in negotiations to transfer it to the residents.
She said: "The money was not much, I just thought I would buy it. If I knew they were in negotiations with the residents I assure you I would not have bought it. The issue is not mine."
On the planning permission issue, she told the Mirror: "I was told by the council anything below two metres doesn't need planning permission. I will not do anything without the council's consent, I will improve on the area, I assure you I'm going to be a good resident."
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council's development quality manager Kelvin Hinton said: "We have received an application which is under consideration and some revisions are expected.
"We can confirm that some works commenced in advance of the application being considered but ceased on our instruction."
The authority will decide whether to grant permission by May 23.
Octagon had not commented when the Mirror went to press.
