TWO cottages which are reportedly older than the town they’re in are set to be flattened and their site used for new homes.

Developers are seeking to demolish the two buildings in Carterton and replace them with five houses and seven flats.

However, a newly-formed online heritage group is hoping to save the properties and turn them into a community museum.

Facebook group Carterton Heritage hopes to rescue Fairseat in Arkell Avenue, situated off Burford Road, from the hands of the developers.

Group founder Sandie Bayliss said: “I set up the heritage group because I wanted to learn about the history of Carterton and the buildings, and the families that first moved here.

“There’s now over 300 members in the group and we’re sharing lots of old pictures of Carterton and the families that used to work here, and the buildings that have been and gone in the town.

“The site at Fairseat is £850,000 so we need to try and find the money before a developer does.

“I saw sale signs up and thought it would be lovely to get a group together.

“It’s two cottages in one and it’s a lovely building with lots of character.

“I’d like to see a museum dedicated to Carterton, in Carterton, and that would be an ideal site.

“The museum would be in the house. It would have to be renovated but I would want to turn the rooms into something like ‘Carterton through the decades’.”

Another member of the group added: “Sandie wanted to raise awareness of Carterton’s heritage and she’s been the real driver behind this.

“Fairseat predates the foundation of Carterton, as far as we believe.

“A lot of people think that it should be preserved and protected. It would be nice to keep it and I think a lot of people take that view.

“Various suggestions have come forward such as a day centre, something which would be good for community use.

“I myself am fascinated by history.”

Meanwhile, in its planning and design statement, IC Architects says the site is ‘an established residential area, surrounded by other relatively modern housing’.

The statement adds the proposal is ‘not in a conservation area, an area of outstanding natural beauty, or green belt and is not close to any listed buildings’, before adding there is no record of flooding in the area.

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The statement further says that the proposal is ‘appropriate for the site and location, has due regard to the amenity of neighbouring properties and will not have an undue visual impact in relation to its surroundings’ and will ‘add to the character and appearance of the area’.

IC Architects, based in Long Hanborough, was established in 2008 by Ian Coleman, who has over 40 years of experience in the architectural industry.

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He said: “Some of the new housing will be affordable so we think it’s got a whole string of benefits to the community.”

To view the planning application, search for reference number 20/00244/OUT on West Oxfordshire District Council’s planning application page online.

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