‘Back my homes plan . . . or I’ll shut village pub’
IT has long been the heartbeat of an idyllic Suffolk village. But now the owner of the local pub has warned residents he will close its doors if they don’t let him build houses next door.
Richard Martin, a wealthy property developer, claims the Grade II listed Six Bells at Preston St Mary loses him money and he can only keep it open if his housing plans are backed.
And he warned the closure of the picturesque watering hole, a former brewery that dates from 1416, would result in village property prices falling. It would also mean locals, who include Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington who recently bought a house near by, having to drive miles for a drink and a meal.
But outraged residents said the six new homes would spoil the village, which is set in rolling countryside near the historic town of Lavenham and has just 200 inhabitants.
One villager said Mr Martin’s attempt to use the pub as a bargaining chip was ‘blackmail’, adding: ‘What he is saying is let me build houses where I want or you won’t have a pub anymore and house prices here will plummet.’
Mr Martin, 75, a respected figure in the area who lives in the 17th Century timber-framed Preston Hall, has insisted the small new homes will be affordable for first-time buyers and help the village survive.
But when his plans were discussed at a recent parish council meeting the overwhelming majority of villagers expressed concerns, with fears it might open the door to further building.
Objectors said the homes were out of character with the village, which is either side of a single street, especially as approval has already been given for nine new homes along the road.
Babergh District Council, which is to make a decision on the application later this year, has already received more than 20 objections to Mr Martin’s plans. He could not be reached for comment.