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The Sun
10-07-2025
- The Sun
Our 300-year-old village ‘hallmark' was ripped down with NO permission in an hour – they should be ordered to rebuild it
LOCALS are furious after their 300-year-old village's "hallmark" was allegedly ripped down without permission in under an hour. Residents near Nursling Street said they were shocked after Wychwood, a 17th-century cottage, was torn down without warning earlier this month. 3 3 Lawrence Harfield, 71, who has lived in Nursling for two decades, said: "We were gutted when we saw what had happened. "We thought it was a listed building. "It was a hallmark of the village — I have taken loads of pictures of the cottage over the years, sometimes even in the snow." Villagers were left stunned after a JCB demolished the entire building within an hour. Residents now hope Test Valley Borough Council will order those responsible to rebuild it as it was originally. The council received a planning application in 2022 to build a new property on the land next to the cottage. Despite being approved by Test Valley, no work had started on the site. Planning portfolio holder Councillor Phil Bund revealed he was not given any prior warning of work that would lead to the demolition of the 300-year-old cottage. He added that although the village's hallmark was not a listed building, the council would be investigating. It comes after disgruntled locals slammed annoying coach tourists for ruining England's " most beautiful village". Wrecking machines move in to demolish 'ghost town' Scots estate dubbed 'Britain's Chernobyl' The picturesque Cotswolds destination in Bibury, Gloucestershire, draws in flocks of visitors each year. But fuming residents have hit out at the influx of tourists, who they claim wreak havoc on the sleepy village. The breathtaking quintessentially English village is a short distance from London - which encourages even more holidaymakers looking for a quick escape to the country. This also means housing is being snapped up for holiday rentals and Airbnbs, which wreaks havoc on the village's younger families The area has also been inundated with more day-trippers as influencers continue to promote the quaint town on social media. Locals have now banded together with the council in a desperate bid to stop their village becoming overrun. If their plans are successful, it could see tourist coaches banned from the area completely. In the meantime, new measures will include changing parking bays so the tourist transporting vehicles can't stop in the B4425 layby - near the village centre. There are also aims to block off access to the central hub completely but this is reliant winning a legal process that is yet to begin. Up to 50 coaches are believed to move through the village during the peak season while as many as 20,000 people flock to the area over the course of a weekend. The resulting tension has even apparently seen things get physical, with one resident claiming to have been "punched and kicked" amid the rows. 3
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Our 300-year-old village ‘hallmark' was ripped down with NO permission in an hour – they should be ordered to rebuild it
An investigation is underway following the demolition of the landmark TORN APART Our 300-year-old village 'hallmark' was ripped down with NO permission in an hour – they should be ordered to rebuild it Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOCALS are furious after their 300-year-old village's "hallmark" was allegedly ripped down without permission in under an hour. Residents near Nursling Street said they were shocked after Wychwood, a 17th-century cottage, was torn down without warning earlier this month. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Wychwood cottage before the demolition job Credit: Solent 3 Villagers said the 300-year-old property was regarded as the 'hallmark' of their parish Credit: Solent Lawrence Harfield, 71, who has lived in Nursling for two decades, said: "We were gutted when we saw what had happened. "We thought it was a listed building. "It was a hallmark of the village — I have taken loads of pictures of the cottage over the years, sometimes even in the snow." Villagers were left stunned after a JCB demolished the entire building within an hour. Residents now hope Test Valley Borough Council will order those responsible to rebuild it as it was originally. The council received a planning application in 2022 to build a new property on the land next to the cottage. Despite being approved by Test Valley, no work had started on the site. Planning portfolio holder Councillor Phil Bund revealed he was not given any prior warning of work that would lead to the demolition of the 300-year-old cottage. He added that although the village's hallmark was not a listed building, the council would be investigating. It comes after disgruntled locals slammed annoying coach tourists for ruining England's "most beautiful village". Wrecking machines move in to demolish 'ghost town' Scots estate dubbed 'Britain's Chernobyl' The picturesque Cotswolds destination in Bibury, Gloucestershire, draws in flocks of visitors each year. But fuming residents have hit out at the influx of tourists, who they claim wreak havoc on the sleepy village. The breathtaking quintessentially English village is a short distance from London - which encourages even more holidaymakers looking for a quick escape to the country. This also means housing is being snapped up for holiday rentals and Airbnbs, which wreaks havoc on the village's younger families The area has also been inundated with more day-trippers as influencers continue to promote the quaint town on social media. Locals have now banded together with the council in a desperate bid to stop their village becoming overrun. If their plans are successful, it could see tourist coaches banned from the area completely. In the meantime, new measures will include changing parking bays so the tourist transporting vehicles can't stop in the B4425 layby - near the village centre. There are also aims to block off access to the central hub completely but this is reliant winning a legal process that is yet to begin. Up to 50 coaches are believed to move through the village during the peak season while as many as 20,000 people flock to the area over the course of a weekend. The resulting tension has even apparently seen things get physical, with one resident claiming to have been "punched and kicked" amid the rows.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Villagers' horror as beautiful 17th century thatched cottage is torn down in one hour without planning permission
Villagers have been left 'stunned' after a beautiful 17th-century thatched cottage was 'smashed' down in just one hour without planning permission. Locals in Nursling, near Southampton in Hampshire, said the 300-year-old property was regarded as the 'hallmark' of their parish and was even featured on the front cover of a book about local history. Test Valley Borough Council has now launched an investigation after the cottage, which was not listed, was demolished. The council said they had not been made aware of plans to tear down the two-bedroom home. Lawrence Harfield, 71, has lived in the Hampshire village for two decades and said many of his neighbours have been left 'stunned' by the demolition. He said: 'First of all we thought they were re-thatching the roof - we were gutted when we saw what had happened. 'We thought it was a listed building. It was a hallmark of the village - I have taken loads of pictures of the cottage over the years, sometimes even in the snow.' Mr Harfield continued: 'It was gone within an hour - a JCB came and smashed it down. 'I hope that Test Valley Borough Council make those responsible rebuild it as it was.' The last planning application in relation to the cottage was submitted to the council in 2022, seeking to build a new home on the land next to the cottage. This application was approved by Test Valley, but no work has yet started on the separate dwelling. Planning portfolio holder, Councillor Phil Bundy, said: 'I was made aware on Sunday evening that Wychwood Cottage had been demolished at the weekend. 'Test Valley Borough Council was not notified of this work in advance. 'Whilst the cottage was not a listed building, TVBC is currently investigating the matter. 'This includes establishing whether the owners followed the correct planning procedures, and the council is in contact with them to understand why it was demolished.' Another resident of the Nursling area, where house prices average at around £420,000, said: 'I thought it would always be there. 'I have a book at home on the long history of Nursling - that cottage is on the front cover - that just shows how important that cottage was to our heritage. 'It's such a shock - it was a beautiful little cottage.'
