A Thai masseuse has ignited a bitter planning dispute at an upmarket waterside development in Dorset after setting up a massage therapy room in a garden log cabin — with neighbours claiming it breaches residential contracts, poses a fire risk and raises security concerns about clients coming and going “day and night.”
Preeyaphon Wansanit began advertising her Thai massage therapy business to residents at Carters Quay, a sought-after development in Poole, triggering a flood of complaints and forcing her to apply for retrospective planning permission after building the cabin without prior approval. The structure is almost 9ft wide and more than 6ft tall, taking up roughly half of the back garden of the house she rents on the estate.
The development has strict rules for residents, who sign contracts upon moving in prohibiting them from even parking a branded business vehicle within the grounds. Miss Wansanit’s application for a “Spa Therapy Room” has since attracted 13 letters of objection and just one of support, with complaints logged on Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council’s planning portal covering everything from parking pressure and security worries to the fire hazard posed by massage oils and candles. One neighbour suggested, without providing evidence, that the premises could be used for improper purposes — an allegation Miss Wansanit firmly denies, pointing to a notice on her website stating “no sexual or inappropriate services” and warning that “disrespectful or inappropriate behaviour will result in immediate refusal of service and permanent blacklisting.”
Neighbour Cesar Camacho accused Miss Wansanit and her landlord of showing “contempt for planning laws” and breaking the terms of the residential contract. “This is a family estate and young children will be metres away from the building,” he said. “They have built a large construction without planning permission. Neighbourhood pressure has forced them to apply retrospectively. They are also comfortable breaking contract law as running any kind of business on the estate is forbidden.” Glenys Bompas said the structure was “too large for the family garden” and objected to it being described as a spa therapy room when it was being advertised as a Thai massage parlour on Facebook and through leaflets dropped through doors.
Gill Sheldrake raised safety concerns, saying the cabin was overlooked by multiple dwellings and that “oils and candles used are a fire hazard to all neighbouring properties,” while clients accessing the room via a back lane introduced security worries for those whose rear gardens they passed. John Wales complained that the applicant had shown no consideration for neighbours, saying the sudden appearance of a massage facility and the comings and goings of clientele using visitor parking bays was “not at all harmonious with our residential community.” The Poole Quays Forum has also formally objected on behalf of residents, citing concerns over security, parking and disturbance.
Miss Wansanit, who is a single mother, said she was doing nothing wrong and could not understand the level of opposition to what she described as a part-time home business offering therapeutic services. “It would be a real shame for them to attempt to prevent me from seeking a part-time income as a single mother,” she said, adding that similar home businesses operated throughout the Bournemouth and Poole areas. The property’s owner, Norman Vaughan, said he had no objection to the arrangement provided the council approved it.
The business currently operates from 10am to 7pm every day except Saturday. The planning consultation period closes on 30 May, after which BCP Council will make its decision.
