A planning application to restore and convert the walled garden on Rushmore Estate, Tollard Royal, near Shaftesbury, has run into a war of words.
The construction of a new unit to the northwest corner of the site and the extension to the Stable and Bothy buildings, and adding 17 holiday units and one communal building seemed straightforward. But the plans met strong objection from the neighbouring Ferne Estate owned by Lord Rothermere. He rebuilt the third and present Ferne House, known as Ferne Park, in Palladian style, at a reported cost of £40 million in the early 1990s, which has since had two additional wings added. In 1991, the Ferne Estate was sold at auction for £1,040,000.
The Ferne Estate engaged solicitors Symonds and Sampson to lodge the objection which highlighted an alleged increase in traffic on roads through the Ferne estate.
The objection states: “An increase in traffic on the public roads will have a significant effect on the use and enjoyment of the Ferne Estate, particularly when horses are crossing the public roads, often close to blind corners, and therefore any increase (in traffic) will have an impact on local landowners.”
The agents claim they will call on ‘suitable expertise’ to assess the impact on the roads around the estate.
The objection also claims the 17 chalets would have ‘a very detrimental impact on the dark skies of Cranborne Chase’.
Rushmore is in the Cranborne Chase, which was an ancient deer forest where King John hunted, and is now an area of outstanding natural beauty. Lt General Pitt Rivers inherited the estate in 1880.
He created a deer park and ornamental parkland, which includes Rushmore Park Golf Club, and a wide variety of landscape plantings, now spectacular beech avenues and belts.
Near neighbour is Ashcombe House on the Ashmore Estate, owned by Madonna’s former husband film-maker Guy Ritchie, who has also caused a stir recently with planning applications.
A decision by Wiltshire Council is expected later in the Summer.
Image: http://www.rushmoreuk.com/