EASTCLIFF will have some new residents on the cliff edge, as goats are to be placed behind a new, six-foot high fence.

The fence has been erected a few feet behind the already in-place, smaller white one and stretches from Boscombe pier approximately half way to Bournemouth pier.

Alec Absalom, 70, from Manor Road, said: “So the goats get a good view of the sea, but residents get a restricted view?

“It seems like the goats have made the decision. I had absolutely no communication from the council.

“If you walk along the sea front there are quite a few benches and people sit on the benches and look out over the water. All you can do now is look at the sea through wired mesh.

"I thought Bournemouth was supposed to be a hit on tourism and good for visitors. It's not even good for residents now.

“My questions are; did they have planning permission? Did they ask anyone other than goats?”

Mr Absalom explained that he lived in a block of 140 flats and everybody he spoke to about the fence knew nothing about it.

Cllr David Kelsey, who is the ward councillor for Eastcliff and Springbourne, said he first saw the fence while out running on Tuesday evening.

“(The fence) will be a pen for keeping the goats in," he said. "It will help with the environmental impact of things.

“You can’t get down there to trim the bushes. The goats will keep the bushes down and also help feed the animals.”

A statement by a BCP Council spokesperson read: “Our cliffs are a valuable habitat for an amazing variety of animals and plants, some of which are very rare. Unfortunately, large areas of the cliffs have become dominated by invasive, non-native vegetation to the detriment of natural habitats. If we do nothing, we will eventually lose a unique wildlife resource.

“In 2012, a conservation management plan was written and approved. This enabled us to enter into a 10 year Environmental Stewardship agreement with Natural England that provides funding to carry out work to restore the natural features of the cliffs. As we have demonstrated at Honeycombe Chine near Boscombe Pier, grazing with goats is a very effective and sustainable way of achieving this aim.

“Following some initial concerns regarding the impact on views across the bay, we will look at each compartment and where necessary reduce the fence height, and in some cases, move it further back but still ensure the goats are contained safely.

“We are dedicated to restoring the natural features of the cliffs, which are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and are committed to enhancing the wildlife diversity of the borough.”