Row over castle's barn (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Row over castle's barn

10:47am Monday 12th February 2007 in News By Peggy Clatworthy

SUDELEY Castle has angered Tewkesbury borough councillors over plans to redevelop Almsbury Farm on the Winchcombe estate.

Planning committee members are furious that despite being three years on after a fire destroyed the farm's barn, it still stands in a state of delapidation.

Secondly, plans for a 24-unit business centre on the site were withdrawn just days after councillors undertook a site visit to assess the project.

Winchcombe councillor Jim Mason said the building was deteriorating all the time and something had to be done swiftly. He has called on planning officers to put pressure on Sudeley to speed up its plans.

The borough council's head of development and building control, Dave Jones, promised officers would continue talks with the castle and urge the need for swift progress.

David Sherborn, Sudeley's chief executive, said the business centre application had been withdrawn because planning officers wanted changes made.

He said: "We intend to restore the barn and improve the farm as soon as it is practical and financially possible."