Eyesore wrecks villagers' view (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Eyesore wrecks villagers' view

A RESIDENT of a north Cotswolds village has been forced to put up roller blinds with rural scenes on them to block out the "eyesore" opposite his home.

Terry Coldicott told a packed public meeting that he moved to Paxford, near Chipping Campden, seven years ago for the beautiful Cotswold scenery.

However, for the past two-and-a-half years, he and his wife Betty have had to look out at an abandoned and overgrown former market garden, covered with builders' rubble, directly across from their home in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

"I didn't come to live a Cotswold village for this. We have been very unsettled here because of this," said Mr Coldicott.

"We have gone as far as putting roller blinds in our bedroom to hide the view," he added.

Mr and Mrs Coldicott were among 70 villagers who attended a meeting in the village hall last Saturday. Almost all those present backed a scheme to build two semi-detached houses in the heart of the village, even though Cotswold District Council has refused planning permission.

Former Blockley Parish Council chairman Helene Thompson, one of the organisers of the meeting, said developer Beechgrove intends to give the rest of the site to the parish council for a village green.

Mrs Thompson has more than 100 signatures on a petition backing the development.

Local district and county councillor Barry Dare, who attended the meeting, described the previous planning decision to refuse the scheme as the "worst decision I've ever encountered". He warned that a further refusal of planning permission could lead to the site becoming a health hazard, with rat infestation.

Ray Spiers, managing director of Cheltenham-based developer Beechgrove, said he intended to resubmit a planning application later this month.