National Trust plan to fence off parkland upsets locals

NATIONAL Trust plans to fence off acres of treasured parkland for a private tenant have caused “distress and upset”.

The decision to lease out the Neogrecian Philipps House at the heart of the Dinton Park estate in Wiltshire, and to fence off 30 acres for the tenant has met a community backlash.

Andrew Murrison, Tory MP for South West Wiltshire, said the trust was acting “like 18th-century landed gentry intent on driving out the public to maximise value and preserve its own privacy”.

The rolling wooded estate is treasured by locals and hundreds visit every week. Salisbury Cathedral spire can be observed from the land around Philipps House which is set to be cordoned off.

Dinton parish council has written a letter of objection to the plans saying they had left villagers “distressed and upset”.

It wrote that the loss of walks, benches and views was “not acceptable”, adding: “The view of the cathedral spire must be saved.”

Speaking to The Guardian, Mr Murrison said money-spinning properties such as Stourhead in Wiltshire should cross-subsidise less lucrative properties such as Dinton.

He added: “And if they now don’t want to manage places for the local community they should let someone else run them.”

The National Trust said the last tenants moved out in 2015 and since then it had explored how best to protect the house. It said the proposal was for 110 acres of park and woodland to remain open for the public and to make 31 acres available “for private use” by the tenant.

A spokesman said: “Following a lengthy and thorough review, the charity has decided the best way forward is

‘Its like 18th-century landed gentry driving out the public to maximise value and preserve its privacy’

leasing the property to a third party who can care for it in a way that will assure its future, and make the financial commitment it requires to repair and restore it.

“The charity recognises how much the parkland is valued by the local community and is committed to maintaining access.

“However, the park boundary is close to the front of Philipps House and the charity is proposing to adjust the boundary and fence lines in the areas adjacent to the house itself to give a greater degree of privacy.”