Latest news with #Rutland
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'My neighbours hate me... but I don't care!': Woman at war with whole village over her 'HS2 tunnel' house wins bitter planning battle
A farmer whose controversial new Teletubby-style eco home caused her own tight-knit village to ostracize her for 'bringing HS2' to their idyll has finally won her planning battle, saying: 'It's a bit like Putin and Ukraine - we should have just had a talk.' Defiant June Titterton-Fox has been granted retrospective permission to continue building her dream house in an idyllic village in Rutland which juts out of a hill in much the same way a piece of tunneling from the cursed infrastructure project does. However this has come with the fury of some neighbours who say the 'out of place' property looks 'absolutely horrible' and should never have been allowed. During a recent council meeting - where planners voted in favour of the scheme with one objection and one abstention - it was revealed that Mrs Titterton-Fox had breached rules and built it bigger than she had been granted permission for. But instead of launching 'enforcing action against her,' officers from Rutland County Council - where the rare breeds farmer was a former councillor - worked with her to seek a resolution. This month jubilant Mrs Titterton-Fox, 65, speaking from her smallholding in posh Whitwell in The Midlands, told MailOnline: 'I've got retrospective planning permission and I am really pleased. 'But it could have been so much better if people in the village, who objected to what I am doing, had spoken directly to me instead of holding secret meetings and not inviting me.' She said the long-running fight with some of her neighbours, whom she had previously counted as close friends and socialised with and branded 'just vicious, horrible people,' had taken its toll on her health and she has lost two stone in weight because of 'all the stress.' As she was nursing a poorly lamb and awaiting a vet's visit, she said: 'It's victory for me but it's a shame it's has taken so long and caused so much aggravation. 'I've won the war but it should have been finished a lot sooner. It's a bit like Putin and Ukraine, if we had just sat down and talked, me and those objecting neighbours, we could have found a solution a lot quicker. 'There's only 25 houses here and half are on the warpath!' Fellow residents in the tiny village - which is twinned with Paris and has two dozen homes - have been divided over the £800,000 three-bedroom home set into a hillside of a six-acre field she owns. She had applied for planning content in 2020 and claimed her unique property Field House would be one of the most energy-efficient properties in Britain. But the plans faced opposition from villagers who said the 'garish Hobbit house' looked 'more like something from Teletubby Land', and planners refused the application for the single-storey home in 2021. Council officers said the development was 'unacceptable' and would be 'visually intrusive and impact adversely on the form and character of the area'. But Mrs Titterton-Fox appealed, and Planning Inspector Dominic Young, clearly impressed by her plans, ruled: 'The state-of-the-art property has been carefully and sensitively designed to the most exacting environmental standards.' He added: 'Given the dwelling would be built into the hillside with no part of its structure protruding above the natural topography - it would have very little impact,' adding that the design had the 'wow factor.' Having cleared one hurdle Mrs Titterton-Fox then faced further obstacles as locals complained she had breach regulations, building the property 1.2 metres higher than approved, adding two extra rooms at each end to be used as an ensuite bathroom and a plant room, and changing the frosted widows size and design, Councillor Kiloran told the recent meeting: 'Residents contacted enforcement because the building did not look like the plans approved on appeal. 'It had an impact on locals living nearby and has impact on heritage.' She urged: 'This application should be rejected for Rutland and for the country. It certainly lacks the wow factor and is in breach of planning.' Retired publican Julie Healey, who has lived in the desirable village for decades, believes the eco house - which is yet to be screened and landscaped - 'looks out of place' and is 'absolutely horrible.' The great grandmother added: 'I cannot believe this has been allowed to happen in a village like this. 'I can only see the house from one bedroom and my paddock so it is not too bad for me but a few of my neighbours overlook it directly and the occupants will be able to look into their bedrooms.' Widowed Mrs Healey, 86, who used to run the next Noel pub with her late husband for 18 years until 1997, told how the eco home had 'spilt the village.' She said: 'People on my side are against it because it is right ion front of them but those on the other side of the road are not so concerned.' She said she and fellow villagers 'always used to socialise' with Mrs Titterton-Fox and her husband Andrew but don't now, saying: 'It has caused a rift and I rarely see her now.' Simon and Beverley Jackson, whose home overlooks the distinctive build likened to the famous pre-school children's TV show, claims the windows face directly into their bedroom and bathroom, destroying their privacy. Mrs Jackson, a semi-retired MD of a legal services firm, said: 'It is an eyesore and when people move in it will be even more so! 'But at the end of the day she's won and we have to live with it. I thought it would go that way, in her favour. 'She used to be a local councillor and she has a few friends there. 'We're not happy but we fought our case and she won. It is what it is and there's nothing we can really do. 'Getting retrospective planning permission is the final straw.' She said it was too early to say if residents would challenge the decision as they would need to spend 'lots more money' seeking a judicial review. Devastated Mrs Jackson, who now feels like selling up her beautiful £1.2 million home, a converted farm grain store, said: 'It is a massive intrusion. It was meant to be built into sunken hollow ground but it sticks out like a sore thumb, and it is farcical. 'I hate living here now. I wake up every morning and see that monstrosity staring back at me from my bed. 'I go to my ensuite to take a shower and I see it, I go to my dressing and make-up room to get ready for work and I see it. 'I go downstairs to my kitchen and lounge and I still see it. It is horrendous.' 'No one around here likes it.' She added: ''The building should be disguised by greenery, it should be covered, but most importantly it should be much lower in height. 'It makes a mockery of the planning system. 'There needs to be trees, evergreens, and landscaping put in pace, and the new gabion structure on the right side needs to mirror the other.' She said that the eco home owner, who like her has lived in the village for 20 years - a beauty spot near Oakhame village lies which boasts the first memorial statue to the late Queen, and historic Stamford in neighbouring Cambridgeshire - 'used to be a friend of mine but I don't speak to her now.' Her insurance broker husband Simon previously fumed: 'There is no getting away from it. When people are living there they will be able to see us in bed and see us in the shower. That is an invasion of our space and privacy, and is alarming. We feel sick.' Another neighbour, who declined to be named, said retrospective plans being given the green light was 'very sad. The woman, whose home overlooks it from a height, said: 'Is it an outstanding an innovative build, no, and it is certainly no Grand Designs building. 'It was a breach of planning law and she did not meet the criteria and there has since been seven rounds of consultation by planning officers who then recommend the council approved it. 'There were a lot of objections but locals have been ignored - our views have not been taken into account. 'It is not an attractive building and spoils the view in our pretty, historic village, which has some listed buildings. 'And now a tall black ugly chimney flue has gone up on the roof.' She added: 'But she got it, fair play, and what can we do apart from spending £30,000 on a judicial review.' The house, which is inhabitable, is still worked on and the owner hopes it will be completed and ready to move into by late summer. Mrs Titterton-Fox and her husband Andrew, 60, a civil engineer with Transport for London, are living in a caravan on site. She told our website: 'We've not done anything to it really because this planning row has dragged on, apart from putting flooring down and plastering and painting the walls. 'It still cannot be lived in, there's electricity but no water and not kitchen or bathrooms but they are no on order and we are hoping to move in by late August-September. 'The house is not any higher but a little bit wider and build into the wings. 'All this stress has been very traumatic and I've lost two stone in weight. 'There's been a lot of negativity and toxicity in the village and one resident has been harassing me, posting against me on social media and keeps videoing me because I'm building a new house.' 'There have been lots of negative posts by one individual and I have had to report it to police.' Mrs Titterton-Fox told how neighbours 'jealous of my dream home' had led her to halting her buildings work and has only made matters worse. But after working amicably with council officers to find a solution to meet planning rules, and make amendment, she assured fellow residents: 'Wait till you see the finished house! 'It will be all landscaped with trees and plants, and is even planted with wild flowed and white daisies on the roof, and you won't even know we're there! 'Complaints that our build is too high are ridiculous and in time it will be almost totally hidden from view, the house will disappear behind screening. 'I can the end of the light of the tunnel.' The couple own another £750,000 five-bed house in the village - their former family home - which they are renting out as an Airbnb and have recently sold. The twice-wed farmer said: 'We finally have a buyer but all the negativity about our new eco home has made it difficult to sell. 'Prospective buyers have said they've read all about me and the planning battle and commented: 'What terrible neighbours you have. 'I have lived in this beautiful village bedside Rutland Water for 24 years. I am a small holder with animals and livestock, and no one will speak to me anymore. I have done nothing wrong.' The Council's Development Manager Justin Johnson, who had previously taken members on a site visit of the property on land off Exton Road Whitwell Conservation Area, told the meeting: 'We investigated on behalf of out own enforcement team. 'The dwelling is larger that permitted with two additional rooms and a black flue has been erected to serve a wood burner. 'But there will be tree planting to provide further screening and the building will one earth covered and seeded.' He advised that the property did not impact in 'neighbours or amenities.' He said the retrospective amended plans included gabion walling, landscaping and excavation to the rear for car parking. 'It does not impact the setting of the Grade II listed Church of St Michael or the Home Farmhouse. 'Due to maintained separation distances, there will be no loss of privacy, or oppressive environment for neighbouring properties. 'It raises the design standards in the ares and has minimal visual impact, with only glimpsed views from nearby public roads and footpaths.' 'The development will not lead to increased flood risk in the area.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Leicestershire probation service rated 'inadequate' by inspectors
The probation service in Leicestershire and Rutland has been rated "inadequate" for the second time in three years following visits by Leicestershire and Rutland Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) was inspected by HM Inspectorate of Probation in inspection found the delivery of services to reduce the risk of harm posed by people on probation "insufficient" in most Jones, chief inspector of probation said there had been "encouraging signs of improvement" since the 2022 inspection which concluded that services in the area were "inadequate". The HM Inspectorate report said the PDU was one of the "largest" by overall caseload in England and Wales, with offices in Leicester, Coalville and Loughborough. 'Lack of liaison' Mr Jones said: "Since the previous inspection in 2022 the PDU has faced ongoing challenges including high staff turnover, elevated sickness rates and, like all PDUs and regions, a prolonged period of significant and frequent changes linked to early prison releases."Only in the past six months has there been a noticeable shift towards improvement."The inspection found the leadership team at the PDU was "well-respected" and staff across all grades said they felt able to provide feedback to senior according to the report there was "a lack of professional curiosity" with practitioners not responding to new information when they received it as well as a "lack of liaison" with other inspection also found in 24% of cases where child safeguarding information should have been requested it had not been, and in 15% of cases no request had been made for domestic abuse information when it should have report made six recommendations to the PDU, including to improve the quality of work to assess and review risk of harm, and to develop practitioners' confidence and skills in the use of professional Ministry of Justice, which has overall control of the probation service, said the government is "on track" to recruit 2,300 more probation officers nationally by March next year.A spokesperson said: "This will help ensure offenders receive robust supervision and improve the work probation does to keep the public safe."
BBC News
7 days ago
- BBC News
Rutland county council chairman visits Rutland in Vermont
Most people would assume the tiny county of Rutland might not have too much in common with the part of New England which shares its name. But Andrew Brown, chairman of Rutland County Council, says there are a number of surprising similarities between the place he represents as a politician and Rutland in recently returned from a self-funded visit to the Rutland's US namesake where he met the local mayor, chief of police and took part in a Loyalty Day parade in the pouring rain. And he said he was given a truly warm welcome by his North American counterparts, who put in place a packed itinerary to allow him to see as much of the place as possible. He said: "It was amazing. They treated us very well. "They have Rutland County, Rutland Town and a Rutland City, where there are about 16,000 in the city and 61,000 in the county, so it's also quite sparsely populated. "And they have a railway that runs rights through the main city - a bit like Oakham."Brown added a visit to Rutland in Vermont was on his wish list since he was elected chairman of Rutland County Council. "Because I get elected yearly and am in my second term, I wanted to go in case I don't get another chance, so I sent an email, they got back to me and we had a few meetings online to arrange my visit," he said. 'Minibus with wings' Rutland in Vermont sits about 100 miles (160.9km) south of the border with Canada and is thought to have been named after John Manners, the third Duke of it is so remote that Brown, who was travelling with his wife and son, had to catch a connecting flight to get to their destination."We flew into Boston from the UK and had to get a connecting flight to Rutland, but it was on a really small aircraft with nine seats," Brown said. "It was like a minibus with wings!"And it turned out it was overweight with the number of people travelling on it, so my wife and son elected to get off and travel there by car."I was left on the plane on my own to make sure I got there on time - they had a full itinerary worked out for me in Rutland. "The noise of the plane was quite loud and so I couldn't talk to anyone and because we were flying through cloud, I couldn't see anything either - and then my wife and son arrived in Rutland only an hour later than I did." A proclamation was read out to herald Brown's arrival in Vermont and he also took part in the Loyalty Day parade, to honour all past and present service personnel and included representative of the police and firefighters as well as marching bands. "The police over there work really differently," Brown said. "There's the state police, the township police and the sheriff, I struggled a bit to work out who does what."He also had lunch with the police chief and addressed the board of aldermen at a meeting, where he handed over a Rutland was also interviewed for television and even performed his own stand-up routine at an evening of singing and entertainment to round off his visit. He said: "I thought the interview would only go out to a few people, but it went out on state TV and when I got back to the hotel, a bloke in the bar said to me 'aren't you that guy from Rutland in England who I saw on the TV?' "It was great fun and part of the reason for me wanting to go is that I wanted to meet and get to know real American people and I did that - and they were great, and really down to earth."Brown arranged his visit with Mike Doenges, Mayor of Rutland City in Vermont, who told the BBC he would like to visit Rutland in the UK himself some day. He added: "We were very excited to have Andrew and his family visit us here in Rutland Vermont!"When Andrew first contacted us, I was surprised and impressed that he wanted to take his personal vacation to the United States and come and visit us here in Rutland City."It was an absolute pleasure to share time showing Andrew and his family around our community and discussing the strong similarities and slight differences between our two 'Rutlands'."I look forward to making the visit to Rutland County UK myself someday in the future, to visit and see our namesake for myself."
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Chelsea Flower Show medal for Rutland designer's bird garden
A Rutland-based garden designer has won a medal at her first RHS Chelsea Flower Oakey received a silver gilt for highlighting the plight of the UK song bird in her show SongBird Survival Garden aimed to show the narrative of a bird's daily life with a birdhouse den made from reclaimed materials showing motifs of threatened UK and Stacey actress Alison Steadman was one of the visitors to the garden and said she had picked up some tips to attract birds into her own garden. Ms Oakey said she wanted to include three elements, "shelter, water and food that are instrumental to birds' lives" in her garden. "My design is inspired by the movement and perspective of a bird, foraging for food and water while moving between points of safety and shelter."Two pathways weave between layers of planting, mimicking how birds prefer to move through a network of cover," she Oakey said the garden featured a birdhouse den made from reclaimed materials, with bird-friendly planting which provides natural sources of food and nesting material. 'Family tradition' Ms Oakey said her parents were florists and avid orchid growers, who had won seven gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show previously. She said: "It's just lovely to be able to follow in their footsteps. "It's exciting to follow the family tradition and come to Chelsea." Once the Chelsea Flower show has finished, Ms Oakey says the whole garden will be relocated. "We're taking it on a lorry up to Hull to its permanent home with the Neighbourhood Network Charity, who manage a bustling community centre, based in Bransholme."It currently doesn't have an outside space, so it'll create a lovely place for people to sit and an oasis for birds in the city," she said.
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Crystal Palace fans' gesture to WW2 veteran meant they 'deserved to win' FA Cup
Respectful Crystal Palace supporters have been praised for 'showing the side of fans we don't often see' Respectful Crystal Palace supporters have been praised for 'showing the side of fans we don't often see' when they honoured a 101 year old war veteran on the Tube leaving him overwhelmed. More than 125,000 have liked a viral video of fans saluting and applauding Normandy veteran Edward Rutland, as they made their way to their historic FA Cup final victory at Wembley. They were all queuing for the escalator when the World War Two D-Day veteran, Ted, was making his way home from a garden party at Buckingham Palace with his two pals when they 'parted like the Red Sea'. His friend has now written to the club chairman Steve Parish on his behalf, to praise the kind-hearted fans. Martin Greaves, 66, told The Mirror: 'They deserved to win because of that reaction on the tube. 'I was so impressed that I wrote to the chairman of the club and said how good his fans were. We were forced onto the underground because of a pro-Palestinian march and it was chockablock after police closed all the roads. 'But when the fans saw us they went berserk, just nuts and all parted. They were fantastic. They were cheering and singing to us on the tube, they were saluting up the escalator. 'It must have been similar to what VE Day was actually like. When Ted experienced it, he perked up straight away and he was waving to them and it could have been intimidating but it was such good natured. It was quite dramatic. 'For Ted he was quite emotional. It was a very nice end to a lovely weekend after a garden party at Buckingham Palace. The Duchess of Gloucester was there and loads of TV stars. 'I felt proud of the fans - that's what I write to the chairman. I bet they don't get a lot of good press but they deserve this." Rutland was 20 when he became involved in the major operation to liberate northwest Europe from Nazi occupation. The Mansfield-born veteran still remembers being fired at by German soldiers as they landed on the beach in Normandy, France. 'You had to try and get up onto the road but the Germans were firing at us, we couldn't move," he said. Mr Rutland was in the 147 Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (147 RAC) and landed on Gold Beach on 12 June - the sixth day of the D-Day invasion. Despite the bombardment, Mr Rutland said he - in a tank of five men - managed to get on to the road ahead, and travelled to Caen, where a battle was ongoing as part of the wider battle of Normandy. 'I was called up and I wanted to join because it was just a change from working on a construction site," he has said. He was awarded the French Legion D'Honneur, handed to the heroes who took part in the Normandy invasion and liberation of France. Speaking to the Mirror ahead of the 80th anniversary of VE Day he told us: "It is important to remember those who died. Please remember them." War hero Rutland will certainly "never forget" after arriving in Normandy days after the D-Day landings and watching friendly fire kill many of his friends. After arriving on Gold beach, the co-driver was in a lorry trying to get over the sand in one piece, when a sniper started aimed at them but he said their tank driver "got rid of him". But they were not so lucky weeks later when they were involved in the Battle for Hill 112 in Normandy. British troops fought against eight German panzer divisions. The decorated soldier with the Royal Armoured Corp from Mansfield was one of the few survivors of an aerial bombardment which claimed the lives of many of his comrades. He said: "I was lucky." He recalls 100 American aircraft flying overhead who went past the line of the Germans and then came back again and dropped bombs on the tanks where Rutland was located. Once the lead aircraft dropped their bombs on them the others followed. Rutland described previously: 'The result was a mess to say the least, the best part of two squadrons, a lot of good men, died that day. I lost a few friends.' He recalls being the victim of friendly fire twice, the second time he saw soldiers wiped out in the field next to him at Arnhem in the Netherlands. This saw his second commander killed. On VE Day itself, tea-totaller Rutland recalls being the only sober one in Hamburg and setting fire to a fountain monument. "We must have been mad but it was quite good fun," he said.
