Villagers face last David and Goliath battle
VILLAGERS WHO have ploughed £14,000 of their own money in a David and Goliath fight to save a landmark East Yorkshire building are preparing for their biggest battle yet.
Councillors have twice refused plans on heritage grounds to knock down a former Victorian boarding school at Brough in East Yorkshire and build a block of retirement flats.
But retirement firm McCarthy Stone appealed and the fate of 54, Elloughton Road, will be decided at a planning inquiry starting on May 23.
Built in 1867/8 as an elite boarding school for boys, Elloughton Rise was known as Mr Richardson’s Academy after its headmaster John Richardson.
The elegant, well-cared-for building, which stands in an acre of its own gardens, is believed to be the only one of its kind left in East Yorkshire.
For the past two years a group of residents has been campaigning against the development.
Last year they won an injunction at the High Court in Leeds to prevent its demolition.
But the legal action was dropped after they were advised they couldn’t win, so everything now rests on the result of the planning inquiry.
Three core families have contributed £14,000, backed up with £4,000 worth of donations from other villagers, much of which swallowed up by legal fees.
Dave Haldenby, a retired social worker, said: “It has taken over our lives, it has been hard.
“I would have rather have given the money to the children, or towards mortgages and I wouldn’t have invited this level of stress.
“But what has fortified us throughout is the huge group of villagers who have remained behind us.
“Three to four hundred people have written to the council throughout the process.”
Mr Haldenby said villagers were outraged when the firm put in for demolition after the first refusal of planning permission by an eight to one vote.
He said: “McCarthy and Stone say the loss of the building won’t detract from it because it will survive in documentation, which is utter nonsense.
“People need to see and appreciate it.”
Eileen Douglas, a retired teacher, said many people had advised them not to fight the plans.
However, they said they felt compelled to stand up for what they believe in.
She said: “I think a lot of people are resigned to the fact that bad things happen and they can’t do anything about them.
“If you don’t have anyone who opposes these things they will do more and more.
“This is very hearts.”
A spokesman for the firm said: “I can confirm that McCarthy and Stone is appealing the council’s decision to refuse the development of 35 high-quality retirement living apartments on Elloughton Road, Brough.
“We will update the community and its representatives following a decision by the planning inspector however, until then, we will be working on our case for the development.” close to our