Ed Sheeran upsets locals as he places hay bales ‘to shield’ controversial ‘pond’

The pop star, who recently wed his longterm girlfriend Cherry Seaborn, has bales of hay placed around the one side of the pond that was visible from the lane that runs alongside his property.

It comes after he previously called for Suffolk Coastal District Council to remove a condition that prevents his £500,000 pond from being used for recreational activities.

The kidney-shaped pool sits in the grounds of the Shape Of You singer’s four-property estate.

Neighbours told Daily Mail that they are concerned it is now being used for recreational activities.

‘It all seems very strange but in actual fact it appears to have been very carefully thought through,’ one local said.

‘The bales have been placed precisely in the right places and at the right angle to shield his pool.’

EXCLUSIVE: * Min Web / Online Fee 100 GBP PP * Call For Set Fees * * Min Print Fee 300 GBP PP Will Always Apply * Double Pg 1 * Pop star Ed Sheeran has built a TWO-AND-A-HALF METRE high wall of HAY BALES by his ??500,000 ???wildlife pond??? in the grounds of his East Suffolk mansion to protect his privacy if he uses it for swimming. The singer has constructed a long semi-circular wall of hay bales, which is three bales high, around one side of the ultra-clean blue ???pond??? so it can not be seen from the road. It comes after Suffolk Coastal District Council agreed the ???pond??? ??? which was created by natural swimming pool specialist Gartenart - can now be used for ???recreational leisure activity uses??? such as ???swimming???, ???watersports??? and ???fishing.??? Planning officers had previously granted retrospective planning permission for a new jetty and ladders on the condition the pond was not used for any activities, following concerns from neighbours that the pond was now ???more like a swimming pool.??? But Sheeran appealed against the condition, slamming it as ???not necessary,??? ???difficult to enforce,??? ???poorly worded??? and unreasonable.??? He also argued that it was not clear when he would be in breach of the condition and said that ???local residents who objected to the scheme??? would be ???likely to report each and every potential breach.??? He said he was worried that if he went out on a ???boat to clear the pond of weed??? or chose to ???swim in the pond to gain access to a branch that had blown into the pond??? he would be reported by neighbours. Now Sheeran has made sure neighbours and passers-by can no longer see his pond from the road. The singer was given permission to build a ???wildlife pond??? in January 2017 and applied for retrospective planning permission to add a jetty and two steps last year. The application claimed the jetty was to ???form interest??? and the ladders would be used for cleaning the pond, which has been dug in a newly-planted orchard area. It also stated the pond contained ???well-established??? water plants and hosted an ???array of wildlife??? including a common newt and a water boatman. But several neighbours objected, stating the pond, which is surrounded by neatly-manicured grass, would now appear to be??? more like a swimming pool??? and they were concerned it could be used to swim in when the weather gets warmer. Kenny and Carol Cattee said last year: ???The so-called Wildlife Pond would now appear to be more like a Swimming Pond, which is somewhat different to the letter of application received from Suffolk Coastal originally. ???What concerns us is the need to Gain Full Planning permission for something that is already there, unless this is yet again all part of a bigger plan by the applicant who at later date could apply to convert or replaced with something very different, possibly leading to further development. ???During last year we had cause to complain about loud music being played from the location and fear that coupled with this and extra lighting etc this would be detrimental to the surroundings and wildlife.??? Neighbour Andrew Cattee added: What was initially a wildlife pond, has this year become a recreational swimming pond, now with the addition of steps, handrail and jetty, one would not like to think that in a year???s time the small equipment sheds are upgraded to a shower block and changing facilities. ???I can certainly say that any contractor I know that carries out pond maintainence and clearance work certainly doesn't need steps and a handrail to enter his place of work! Another neighbour added: ???I believe that the development of the site is more about creating an environment for a" wild lifestyle" rather than actual "wild life"! Last month Sheeran won an appeal to keep a huge pub sign dedicated to his wife in his estate grounds. Planning officers had told him to take down the ???unauthorised signage??? from his pub, which he named The Lancaster Lock, after his wife, Cherry Lancaster Seaborn. But he was later granted retrospective planning permission for the five-metre-long sign on the side of his pub, which he has created from a grade-two listed barn. Sheeran???s country estate features an indoor swimming pool, a four-room treehouse and a trendy ???pod.??? The 6.3 hectare grounds include informal gardens, an ornamental pond, lawns and fields. Pictured: GV,General View Ref: SPL5104538 170719 EXCLUSIVE Picture by: SplashNews.com * Min Web / Online Fee 100 GBP PP * Call For Set Fees * * Min Print Fee 300 GBP PP Will Always Apply * Double Pg 1 * Splash News and Pictures Los Angeles: 310-821-2666 New York: 212-619-2666 London: 0207 644 7656 Milan: 02 4399 8577 photodesk@splashnews.com World Rights — The kidney-shaped pond lies in Ed’s Suffolk estate (Picture: Splash)

Ed appealed the planning condition back in June in the hope that the pond could be used for leisure activities such as swimming and fishing rather than only being for wildlife.

The District Council made the condition after neighbours expressed concerns that the pond had become more like a swimming pool.

In his appeal the singer stated that the condition is not necessary, difficult to enforce, poorly worded and unreasonable.

The pop star has since bought two more properties close by in the area where he grew up and locals have apparently nick-named his new mini-estate Sheeran-ville because he now owns so much property there.

He also has a giant tree house, a pod, a covered swimming pool, and a hot tub in the main garden at his disposal. He even converted the barn into his very own personal pub, complete with urinals and a selection of beer.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Ed’s publicist for comment.

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