A pair of second homeowners were accused of treating a seaside village like a playground after unveiling plans to build an underground tunnel to their private cliff-face viewing platform.
Richard and Karen Dance came under fire after proposing to build a 25ft-long subterranean passage at their holiday home on the Isle of Wight.
The plans are designed to link to the basement of their coastal home with a balcony looking out across the English Channel.
Richard and Karen say they are simply completing a feature which was part of the original plans for the house when it was built more than 100 years ago, by connecting it to a pre-existing tunnel.
But the proposal submitted to the local council has divided opinion on the quiet island parish where the £650,000 property is situated, with some fearing it will damage the cliff.
The couple, who live in Brockenhurst, Hampshire's New Forest and run a string of convenience stores, purchased the home overlooking Sandown Bay in 2013.
When the house was built in the early 20th century, a tunnel leading to the platform was partially built.
The entrance to this passageway currently sits 30ft away from the property and linking it up would give the Dances access to spectacular sea views.
Under the couple's plans, the basement of the house would be extended and a new tunnel would be built and linked to their home.
Their application to the Island's council states: "The proposals represent a unique scheme to provide an underground link between an existing house and an existing tunnel and viewing platform.
"Whilst unusual, the proposal is essentially a domestic extension."
However, the plan has sparked resistance from some locals.
Neighbours Chris and Irmgard Keen have lived in their home on the cliff for more than seven years.
Irmgard, who goes by the name Bingo, said: "I am closely connected to this place here, love it very much. Such a project is used as a playground by people who don't live here permanently and [could cause] damage to the community living here."
The retired care assistant, aged 66, added: "It's not for the people who permanently live here.
"They would do better to spend that money towards supporting the cliff. It's a community thing that affects us all and nature is the most important thing.
"Some people do not know what to do with their money."
The couple, who are trying to sell their home, say they worry the safety aspect will lower the value of the homes around the property.
Retired computer software worker Chris, 65, added: "It just seems like an extravagance. It's not the sort of thing you would use every day.
"The last thing we want is for the cliff path to be made impassable. It all seems like a bit of a gamble for an unnecessary reason."
Island resident Andrew Hayes added: "The cliff path in that area has previously shown to have a friable geology so to go ahead with this application which only has a small benefit to the owners of the holiday home would be extremely dangerous."
While others are positive about the proposals and say it would actuallly improve the stability of the cliff.
Structural engineering firm Such Salinger Peters argued that the tunnel would make the cliff more stable as it would be made of steel-reinforced poured concrete, brickwork and waterproof membranes.
Resident Sam Connelly, 47, director of an engineering company who has lived in the area for his whole life, is also "strongly pro" the application.
He said: "I think this is wonderful, the house was always designed to have the home joined to the tunnel in 1911 when it was originally built.
"The cliff has not changed in a hundred years. We have glass negatives as evidence to support this, there is no difference between then and now.
"My personal opinion is that [the negative comments are] speculation and amateur opinion with no backing.
"If you look at the facts, the cliff face is absolutely sound - two independent structural geological reports have been undertaken on the cliff.
"We should be promoting people doing something good for the island and people upgrading their personal assets.
"The home is used as a quality rental where the type of people coming will eat out in the local restaurants and spend money in our shops. It is going to help revitalise tourism.
"It will help stabilise the cliff. These works will protect and lengthen the lifespan of our wonderful cliff path".
Geologist Geoff Long, who lives just a few doors down, agreed and said: "Why shouldn't someone want to do something nice on their property?
"Should we all have sterile lawns in front of our houses or can we actually add a bit of unique character to our properties?
"Can we not be a bit more neighbourly about this?"
Meanwhile Lake Parish Council said the tunnel could affect the stability of the cliffs and has recommended the application be refused.
Paul Brading, county councillor for Lake South and chair of the parish council, said many local residents are in agreement that the work could be dangerous due to the instability of the cliff.
"There was a cliff fall in 2010, the last time someone tried to do work there," he added.
When approached, Mr Dance declined to comment.
