Villagers are outraged that the district and county councils have ignored their complaints as a developer allegedly threatened to build “an Amazon warehouse” in their tiny hamlet.

The Guy Group Sipp was granted prior approval in April 2021 for change of use of building and land to a flexible use at The Concrete Barn at Field Assarts.

But residents argued this permission was too general, and wrote to the Parish Council, West Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire County Council to complain.

The change of use allowed commercial storage, which the village was against, and Mr Guy then suggested he would create holiday lets for equestrian holidays.

Villagers feel access to the barn is not wide enough for commercial vehicles which would find difficulty in turning into the access from a narrow lane.

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One villager said: “The access road is at most 20 metres from a crossroads, there is definite dangers from traffic. The access road is narrow and impassable."

Villagers launched a petition urging the parish council to step in and the parish council organised a meeting with WODC.

But, they say, nothing was done to eliminate the threat of development. 

The parish council has since lodged a complaint with West Oxfordshire District Council saying they said they were not consulted on the application but only learned of it incidentally.

Rita Gunn, parish clerk, wrote to Mr Guy: “There was a common feeling that the change of use application with no intended activity specified was too general and certainly left the residents feeling anxious about future use. 

“The other aspects which concerned the council were flooding and sewage both of which are a problem in the parish.

“Overall I would say that if the application had specified stabling etc there would have been little opposition - it is the uncertainty of use that has caused anxiety.”

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After Mr Guy’s initial threat of using the building for commercial storage, he reassured the parish council:  “But whatever we do, as a graphic designer, I’m very keen for it to be done sympathetically to the Cotswold AONB and any rumours of it becoming a 'distribution centre' or generating lots of additional traffic are certainly untrue.”

The application for permission to create holiday lets for equestrian holidays was refused, but villagers still fear the open-ended planning permission leaves the door open for what might come next, as the WODC and OCC continue to ignore their complaints. 

The land is now for sale again for £495,000. 

Now the villagers have instructed solicitors who have sent WODC a letter calling the planning decision “defective”.

In a letter, Aston Bond Solicitors said "it is the duty of your counsel to examine transport and highways impacts of the development".

"It appears that no detailed description or plans have been provided and therefore the decision which would appear to have taken without any such plans is defective.

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“A storage use could encompass a substantial commercial activity which will involve commercial vehicles of any size which would not be appropriate for the very limited access enjoyed by this barn.

"Such heavy commercial traffic could have a detrimental effect on the adjacent dwelling houses, as they are so near to this access way. We are therefore writing to ask you to revisit this matter and look forward to hearing from you.”

Helen Blundell, who acts for the shared legal service of West Oxfordshire, Forest of Dean and Cotswold District Councils, said she would take instructions and get back to them.

A spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council said: "The county council was asked for a view on this topic late in the process and was, as a result, unable to meet the deadline.

"Having subsequently reviewed the information it is unlikely there would be grounds for an objection on transport matters. As the Local Planning Authority WODC are the decision makers. OCC will assist wherever we can including with additional consultations if required."

Mr Guy was contacted for comment.

 

 

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