A “LORD of the Manor” billionaire has infuriated villagers by launching a mega party centre which they claim threatens to destroy their peace and quiet.
Many of the 150 locals say that hugely-wealthy Jon Hunt – who sold his estate agency Foxtons for millions – has turned his country estate in the heart of the Suffolk countryside into a giant retreat called Valley Farm where guests can drink and dance round the clock.
JOHN McLELLANThe Wilderness Reserve which has been granted approval for its Blyth Barn wedding venue on the Valley Farm estate[/caption]
JOHN McLELLANA sign in the village saying ‘Wilderness Reserve Not Welcome Here’[/caption]
JOHN McLELLANVillager Liz Forrester is against the new venue[/caption]
In the latest confrontation with villagers in Huntingfield near Halesworth, critics claim he is creating an unsuitable 24-hour-a-day venue – with booze on tap at all hours – that will ruin their tranquil lives.
The latest addition to the sprawling 8,000 acre estate – an 18-bedroom wedding venue called Blyth Barn – is a string of converted linked buildings that can accommodate more than 200 guests and is just two minutes walk from the peaceful village green.
In a meeting earlier this month, Huntingfield Parish Council’s planning committee voted in favour of a motion to approve the part-retrospective application submitted by The Wilderness Reserve.
However, there were conditions that limited the number of events with more than 180 people per year, and there will be no marquees outside the building area, reports the Beccles & Bungay Journal.
The plan related to the reconfiguration of three approved holiday lets into the single guest house.
But locals are seriously worried that what they describe as a “glorified holiday camp” they claim will ruin their rural peace and quiet.
Local Helen Cannon told The Sun this week: “They know how to work the system – they apparently said it wasn’t going to be a party place but that is exactly what every other property on the estate has been turned into.
“This new place will apparently have 18 rooms and be able to host hundreds of people – that will inevitably involve disruption and late-night disturbance for every local living here.”
The new “party central” development – which also boasts a swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, gym and party room will be available for a reported £30,000 a night and have parking for more than 100 cars.
It previously won permission from the district council to sell alcohol 24 hours a day, sparking more fears among some locals of round-the-clock noise and disturbance.
It is being advertised as “grand-scale entertainment” and despite local objections, has been granted a licence for music until 1am.
Villagers Lori Kingsley Adams and her daughter Nina Roe, 39, are among local objectors – they claim it has grown well beyond the “rural retreat” originally pitched.
Ms Adams, 61, who has lived in Huntingfield since 2017, said: “We feel like we have been ignored and our views not considered – all in the name of money.
“This is a very old village and a small farming community and we thought this development would be a good thing for the village.
“But we have already endured four years of construction disturbing the peace and calm of the village.
“It has been distressing and Huntingfield has been ruined – Mr Hunt presents himself as a philanthropist but he’s not. We feel our views have been ignored – all in the name of money.”
Ms Adams previously told the MailOnline: “It’s a David and Goliath battle.”
Another villager said: “No-one has thought about the effect on all our lives – the traffic, light-pollution noise and the effects on wildlife.
“Some guests will arrive in helicopters – we have all been misled about the ‘green’ nature of this development.”
JOHN McLELLANHuntingfield Parish Council’s planning committee voted in favour of a motion to approve the part-retrospective application[/caption]
JOHN McLELLANThe wedding venue contains 18 rooms[/caption]
JOHN McLELLANIt’s feared the tiny village will be further blighted by the latest approval[/caption]
Parish council chairman David Blackmore raised concerns at a recent meeting about “the huge amount of traffic, noise and light pollution” caused by the guests.
He said: “We are not anti-development just anti the wrong development – and a huge wedding venue and party space has no place in our small village.”
And a report from a planning consultant said that the venue “will inevitably cause a great deal of noise and disturbance to the local area with loud music and and a massive increase in traffic.”
Adding a claim that “the council failed to take any action or issue any enforcement notices for the current development not being in accordance to the approved plans.”
But not everyone is against the new facility – furniture maker Chris Kerridge, who lives in the village, said: “I come from here and lots of my family live around here.
“Mr Hunt is creating jobs, employing lots of local people and is saving the place in a traditional way.
“He is restoring disused old buildings and putting them to good use – he has deep pockets and can afford to do that.”
The Wilderness estate is described in its brochures as “an eco-holiday resort for grand-scale entertainment” and famous guests who have already stayed there include Jack Whitehall and Zoe Sugg.
Mr Hunt makes this year’s recent “Rich List” with a fortune of £1.427 billion pounds which means he is the 114th richest person in the country.
The planning committee also approved an application for an extension and modification
One bid is for the extension and modification of the car park which had received 40 objections from the public.
It was heard in the meeting that the proposal includes 53 parking spaces and the overflow car park was removed from the application in response to objections.
The other proposal was a part-retrospective application for a building to house management services and overflow accommodation.
The committee voted in favour to approve both the applications.
A spokesman for Wilderness said: “We have been part of the community around Huntingfield for many years, supporting local businesses and jobs as well creating new natural habitats for wildlife.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the local community to deliver more of these benefits in the future.”
JOHN McLELLANChris Kerridge is very much in favour of the site[/caption]
JOHN McLELLANSue Brewer, pictured with her dog Elsie, is against the new plans[/caption]
JOHN McLELLANJulie Collet stands proudly by the Huntingfield sign[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
