A CONTROVERSIAL application to demolish a 17th century farmhouse and replace it with a modern build was refused following a dramatic committee hearing in Stroud.

Winterspring Cottage, known locally as Whitehall Farm, in Alderley, near Wotton-under-Edge, was saved from demolition at a Stroud District Council development control meeting on Monday, October 13.

Confusion struck the committee when it was heard that two Alderley residents objecting to the application were mistakenly informed they would be unable to speak at the hearing in an email earlier that day.

James Mackenzie, a representative of Alderley Parish Meeting, and Nicholas Read, an Alderley resident for more than 47 years, have spent the past several weeks fighting to protect Winterspring Cottage.

The request, which came from Alderley Farm Nominees Ltd on Monday, July 7, was to demolish the cottage and replace it with a new dwelling of a similar scale using traditional materials.

In an initial meeting on Tuesday, September 9, the application was deferred until Monday so that Mr Mackenzie and Mr Read could seek spot listing from English Heritage.

English Heritage decided not to list the site due to the level of alterations and lack of national historic interest.

They did, however, suggest that the building may be listed by the local authority. It was said at yesterday’s meeting that the SDC do not have such a list.

When the public were invited to speak Mr Mackenzie and Mr Read revealed they had received a letter in red stating that “only elected Ward Members will be permitted to address the Committee”.

Chairman John Marjoram said he did not understand why this had happened, and the planning officer apologised for any confusion.

Both men decided to speak despite their lack of preparation and gave impassioned speeches in defence of the 300-year-old property.

Mr Mackenzie said: “Why is this building under threat? The secretary of state does not want it demolished, English Heritage does not want it demolished, your councillors do not want it demolished, your electors don’t want it demolished.

“One man alone wants to remove all trace of it.

“Be proud of your heritage, the heritage of the ordinary working man. Stand up for it. Refuse this insane application.”

Following statements from Mr Mackenzie and Mr Read, the councillors on the committee engaged in a substantial debate over the application.

Councillor Liz Ashton, supporting refusal, said: “Any student of history will know how much we do to preserve the homes of the wealthy, but it’s very hard to hear how poor people lived and worked.

“If this building is demolished we will lose something of great historical importance.

“We have a habit of saving places of wealth like Berkeley Castle and bringing the homes of ordinary people to the ground.”

Councillor Paul Hemming finally proposed a refusal. The motion was carried with three objections and one abstention.

The application was refused on the grounds that the replacement dwelling would be more suited to an urban surrounding, rendering it out of place within the rural location.

Mr Mackenzie, Mr Read, and a few other Alderley residents, were thrilled to hear that the application had been refused.

Mr Read said: “It was a building that really was well worth saving despite what the officer was saying. He really had no feel for the place at all.

“The replacement would have been a real horror in the valley.”

The cottage is on private land on the Alderley Farm estate. It cannot be accessed by public road, but is visible from a public footpath.

Alderley Farm Nominees Ltd and their agent Tony Salmon were unable to be reached for comment before the time of publication.