Villagers in protest over plans for pub (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Villagers in protest over plans for pub

VILLAGERS in Bourton-on-the-Hill have vowed to stop the wife of a millionaire fashion tycoon converting the Horse and Groom pub into a private house.

More than 80 residents crammed into a public meeting last Saturday to express their opposition to Fiona Davies' plans for the pub.

Mrs Davies, the wife of designer George Davies, bought the pub in 1996. Her husband found fame and fortune by establishing the Next fashion chain and designing clothing ranges for two major supermarkets.

She has now applied to Cotswold District Council for permission to convert the pub into a private house.

Villager Richard Hudson said the number of people at the meeting showed the strength of feeling in the community. "Everyone believes we have to protect local amenities now for future generations to enjoy. It will rip the heart out of our community if it goes."

Parish council chairman Patricia Hayes said the pub was essential to preserve community spirit in the village, which lost its school 25 years ago and its shop 12 years ago.

A petition against the plans is being circulated in the village and residents are urged to write to the council's planning department and Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.

The parish council has also asked the district council to give it more time to make a full response to the application.

Colin Methven, who represents the village on the district council, said: "Quite clearly, there is a very powerful message coming through from the village. I would register a bit of sympathy with the villagers' situation but want to stand back at the moment because Mr Davies is also a constituent of mine. It would be wrong to commit myself to one side or the other before I hear both sides of the story."

Council planning officer, Geraldine LeCointe, said the parish council's comments would be listened to, even if they miss the deadline. Mrs Davies, whose husband sold his Per Una fashion range to Marks & Spencer for £125 million, was unavailable for comment as the Journal went to press.