【09.10.19 每日电讯报 】Prince Charles under fire over duchy plans to bulldoze farmland

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Prince Charles under fire over duchy plans to bulldoze farmland
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/6372036/Prince-Charles-under-fire-over-duchy-plans-to-bulldoze-farmland.html

By Murray Wardrop Published: 9:03AM BST 19 Oct 2009

The Prince of Wales has come under fire from residents in the village of Newton St Loe, Somerset, over plans to build 2,000 new homes on nearby fields and farmland.


The Prince of Wales has been condemned over plans to develop farmland owned by the Duchy of Cornwall Photo: GETTY

Villagers are astonished that the Prince’s Duchy of Cornwall estate, which owns most of the village near Bath, is even considering concreting over greenfield land.

The duchy has appointed consultants and is working on the plans with Bath and North East Somerset council, which is seeking sites on which to extend Bath to meet government housing targets.

The Prince plays an active role in the management of the duchy, and the proposed development could yield an estimated £100 million, opponents claim.

Protesters have accused the Prince, who has positioned himself as a champion of the countryside, of abandoning his commitment to protecting rural Britain.

Dozens of tenants have sent letters to the Prince complaining about the proposed scheme and have joined forces under the banner of the Newton St Loe Conservation Group.

Jane Giddins, the chairwoman of the parish council, told The Guardian: "There are people in the village who feel let down by the duchy's position.

“They could have said this plan to extend Bath on greenfield sites is wrong."

Audrey Pawson, 87, who has lived in the village for 83 years, added: “We can't believe Prince Charles would even think about this plan for more than two minutes.

“The idea when we took over our cottage was you don't do anything to spoil its situation. We weren't even allowed to build a single garage.

“It surprises me he seems to be putting money first.”

The duchy, worth an estimated £616 million, offered to consider the development after the council identified its land as a viable site for new homes.

The scheme would see the destruction of Newton Farm, a beef producer which has won praise for its environmentally friendly methods.

Only last week, the Prince described the countryside as “one of the greatest treasures of our nation” and warned that livestock farmers “are struggling as never before”.

A spokeswoman for the duchy said: “We are keen to work alongside the council to meet its housing needs and the needs of the community.

"As usual the duchy will ensure the development is sustainable and the views of the local residents will be taken into account during the consultation process."

She added that all profits from the scheme would be reinvested in the duchy.

Newton St Loe can trace its roots back to the 15th century, and remains the epitome of an unspoilt rural village.

The council's own strategy document states the proposed development is likely to have “a major impact on the landscape” and “breach the containment of the existing urban area”.