I live next to a multi-millionaire, castle-owning reality TV star - their noisy generator is destroying my peace, and disturbing my sleep!
- Pensioner living next to centuries-old castle says its new generator is too loud
- The stronghold was snapped up for a bargain £5.5million in 2023
- Its owner, a reality TV star, has big plans to renovate it and open it as a hotel
A villager claims a 'growling exhaust noise' coming from a diesel generator at a reality star's castle has 'destroyed' his peace.
The wealthy owners of Lympne Castle, near Hythe, Kent, installed the unit at their recently reopened bistro after snapping up the property nearly two years ago.
Bosses say the temporary generator only emits a 'very small hum' and will soon be replaced by a new electrical substation.
But neighbour Ian Brown, 80, who has lived in Lympne for the past nine years, has been increasingly frustrated by the noise.
He said: 'Why in God's name do they need a generator? I just can't understand why they need it.
'The machine's growling exhaust noise has destroyed the peaceful conditions in my garden and prevents or disturbs sleep unless windows are kept closed.
'It's alright today when the wind's up, but on still days, I can't use my garden from the constant droning.
'And there was no notice that this was going to happen. It's incredibly irritating.'
Ian Brown, of Lympne in Kent, says he is fed up of the 'growling' emanating from a generator at a castle belonging to a reality TV star
Lympne Castle was snapped up by the multi-millionaire star and her husband for £5.5million in 2023
An interior shot of the plush castle's master bedroom - boasting fittings and fixtures fit for a would-be king and queen
Dr Ann Kaplan Mulholland - star of reality TV show The Real Housewives of Toronto - and her husband, Dr Stephen Mulholland, bought the castle for £5.5 million in 2023.
The businesswoman, who is said to be worth around £500 million, has since invested in regenerating the Grade I-listed building and its grounds.
This included the grand reopening of its bistro in August, renamed The Naughty Dog.
A retrospective application for works to the eatery - including modernising the site to house a new professional kitchen - was approved by Folkestone and Hythe District Council earlier this year.
But another resident, Lynn Frank, was frustrated that planning permission had not been secured before the works took place.
She wrote on the council's planning portal: 'This is one of many applications that should have been put in for the extensive works.
'The owner of the castle was well aware of planning permission rules. This work was done in blatant disregard for the council planning permissions.'
Council officers noted two objections had been lodged and their report said: 'While it is regrettable that planning permission wasn't secure pre-commencement, the fact the application is retrospective is not a material planning consideration.
'The immediate neighbour has objected because of noise and disturbance from a generator. The objection is understood, but this is not part of the current application.
'Officers have informed the agent that permission will be required if the generator is to remain and that noise and acoustic shielding will need to be considered.'
The castle has been snapped up by entrepreneur and Real Housewives of Toronto star Ann Kaplan Mulholland (pictured)
She and her husband Stephen plan to spend £25million on regenerating the castle - but not everyone is happy
Ann said she wanted to be 'respectful of the undertakings' that came with the castle when she snapped it up
A castle spokesperson said the 'silent generator' is housed in an enclosed structure behind a stone wall.
They said: 'If standing right next to it, there may be a very small 'hum', similar to if you had an AC unit on in your home.
'As the castle land stretches beyond the stone walls and lawn to the closest house, there is a distance from any neighbouring properties, so one would need to walk onto and across the castle property to hear the generator.'
The spokesperson said a second stone wall is being put up on the boundary to 'avoid confusion for neighbours or visitors to the castle'.
They added: 'A new electrical substation will be installed in the spring to replace the generator.
'Castle management purchased a silent generator with due respect for the neighbourhood, taking great effort to make sure we are considerate to the local community.'
Lympne Castle castle was built in the 1080s for the Archdeacons of Canterbury, and remained in the same ownership until 1860.
It was then used as a farmhouse and was in disrepair by the early 1900s. It was briefly occupied by brewer F.J Tennant and then Henry Beecham, brother of English conductor, Thomas Beecham.
It was used by the Army in World War Two, thanks to its clear vantage point over the English Channel. Sir Paul McCartney used the castle to record the 1979 Wings album, Back to the Egg, in the Great Hall where weddings are now performed.
The bistro is part of a planned £25million rejuvenation of the castle, which will also see it used as a hotel, supplementing its existing use as a wedding venue.
Speaking to MailOnline last year, Ann said she hadn't been aware of any 'concern' around she and her husband snapping up the castle for the relative bargain price of £5.5million.
She said in April: 'It was a slightly crazy decision. Who says 'let's buy a castle'? But we wanted to do something different. This certainly is different.
'I just love the place. This is more than a home, it's a community. We feel very blessed and privileged to be here.
'The energy of the place is amazing. We're trying to be very respectful of our undertakings which we have here. This is a big part of the community and we want that.
'We were not aware of any concern around us coming here before we moved. I'll be honest we probably didn't have much time to take any of that in if we are.
'But we're working hard and will continue to work hard to make this a place for everyone.'
