THE wife of former Middlesbrough manger Tony Pulis is tackling plans to build two blocks of five storey flats next door to their £6m home.

Just like her husband who is famous for his no-nonsense approach to football, Deborah Pulis has been direct with the property developers behind the controversial plans.

She said replacing an old bungalow next to the couple’s home in Lilliput, Poole, with 14 flats was ‘beyond laughable’.

In her letter of objection to BCP Council, Mrs Pulis said: “I am amazed that 14 flats and up to 28 cars could ever fit into such a small plot of land.

“I have no concerns of a more modest development taking place.

“The present application is beyond laughable. I strongly suggest that this application is refused.”

She is among almost 50 local residents to object to the plans that also include underground car parking for the occupiers of the new flats.

Others have described the scheme as ‘ridiculous’, ‘ludicrous’ and a ‘monstrosity’.

Tony Pulis spent 18 months on Teesside. He took over at Middlesbrough in December 2017. He left the club in May 2019.

He also used to manage Stoke City, Crystal Palace and West Brom.

They state that development - especially the underground car park - could weaken the land and cause a landslip.

They also claim the development would be out of keeping with the area and that the narrow cut-de-sac of Crichel Mount Road could not take the extra traffic, in particular lorries and diggers that will be used during the build.Resident Gary Young wrote: “This application is ridiculous for this plot. Please reject this monstrosity of an application.”

Esther Brazil, of Lilliput Road, said: “I am gravely concerned about the impact on the potential residents of the new development and the current residents of the lane as it stands.”

The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has also raised concerns about the extra residents the flats will generate.

They state local NHS services are already operating at full capacity and the development will create a ‘potentially long term impact on the Trust’s ability to provide services.’

They are calling on the developers behind the scheme to donate almost £20,000 to the NHS Trust to subsidise the extra resources that will be required to cope with the increase in users.

He and Deborah bought the large, detached house overlooking Poole Harbour in 2009 while he was enjoying success at Stoke.

The next-door property is a rundown bungalow that has been empty for several years.

West Coast Developments, which is behind the scheme for two matching blocks of luxury flats, said the development would benefit the area.

In their design and access statement, they stated: “The economic role of the development will benefit local builders being employed to construct both large buildings and suppliers benefiting from high quality and expensive materials being ordered.

“The site...provides an incredible and exciting design opportunity for a stunning new development.

“The proposed buildings are unique in terms of their design, position and appearance...and add to the local distinctiveness of this affluent area of Poole.

“The proposed buildings will not be dominant over the trees or the skyline. The massing and height of the proposed buildings will be substantially the same as the extant approval for semi-detached houses.”