Millionaire residents of Sandbanks have reacted with fury at the prospect of a 27ft high concrete wall being built to protect the exclusive peninsula from flooding.
The structure, that would be higher than the Great Wall of China, would have to be built as part of a controversial £250million development to turn a historic waterfront hotel into a block of luxury flats.
Campaigners claim the posh resort in Poole Harbour, Dorset, will resemble a prisoner-of-war 'Stalag' camp if the new sea wall is built.
Sandbanks is renowned as a millionaires' playground where £10million properties play host to business moguls and celebrities alike.
More than 6,500 letters of objection have already been lodged against the plans to demolish the Haven Hotel.
Millionaire residents of Sandbanks have reacted with fury at the prospect of a 27ft high concrete wall being built to protect the exclusive peninsula from flooding. The structure, that would be higher than the Great Wall of China, would have to be built as part of a controversial £250m development to turn a historic waterfront hotel into a block of luxury flats. Above, a spoof image posted by the Sandbanks Community Group on Twitter - as campaigners compare the development to a Stalag prison camp
Above, a computer-generated image of how the development could look. It was previously thought the six-storey block of 119 luxury apartments would require a 12ft sea wall, before the Environment Agency requested further analysis of the 'flood risk', prompting a new calculation. However, the developers insist the larger sea wall will be 'mechanical' and only rise up from the ground hydraulically when there is a flooding risk
Developers have accused the campaigners of 'scraping the barrel' in their attempts to thwart the project (CGI impression, pictured) which is set to be ruled on by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council planning officials in February
But anger has intensified after a flood modelling report produced on behalf of the developers revealed a 27ft high sea wall defence is required around the perimeter of the Poole Harbour site to stop wave surges.
The objectors say this would be taller than the iconic Chinese landmark that ranges in height from 16ft to 25ft - and almost double the height of the Berlin Wall, making residents feel like they were trapped in a German-style prison camp.
It was previously thought the six-storey block of 119 luxury apartments would require a 12ft sea wall, before the Environment Agency requested further analysis of the 'flood risk', prompting a new calculation.
However, the developers insist the larger sea wall will be 'mechanical' and only rise up from the ground hydraulically when there is a flooding risk.
More than 6,500 letters of objection have already been lodged against the plans to demolish the Haven Hotel. It was built in 1880 and is where engineer Guglielmo Marconi established the world's first wireless communications
They have accused the campaigners of 'scraping the barrel' in their attempts to thwart the development which is set to be ruled on by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council planning officials in February.
David Morley, chairman of the Sandbanks Community Group, who are fighting the plans, said: 'This sea wall will actually be higher than the Great Wall of China and almost double the height of the Berlin Wall.
'It will turn our peninsula into Stalag Sandbanks, as it will make Sandbanks look like a prison camp.
'The developers initially said the wall would measure 3.75m to 4m (13ft) but the Environment Agency requested further analysis
