Plan row wife quits council (From Evesham Journal)

Plan row wife quits council

8:00am Friday 25th January 2013 in News

THE wife of a Stratford district councillor at the centre of a planning row has resigned from her position as parish council chairman.

Sarah Vaudry stepped down the night before Dorsington Parish Council was due to discuss contentious proposals to convert the barn at her Grade II listed home in the village into a wedding, conference and function venue.

The plans put forward by her husband, district councillor Robert Vaudry, have caused uproar with villagers who fear the plans will have a detrimental effect on the village.

After listening to residents’ views at the meeting, Dorsington Parish Council felt there was no alternative but to oppose the application.

Margaret Lindsay, parish council clerk, said: “I think it’s very difficult and very sensitive. It’s an awkward position to be in. We are putting in a formal objection [to the application]. When you listen to individuals of the village you realise how it affects everyone. There was no way we could try and take another view. There was no other view being given.”

Angry residents have set up an action group, petition and Facebook group, Save Dorsington.

Resident Ray Perry said: “A lot of people just want to know something is being done. Even if this is rejected by the planning committee we believe he will come back at it again. We’re digging in for the long term. We won’t go away.”

In a presentation to Dorsington Parish Council, Coun Vaudry said he wanted to offer the barn as a village hall.

“Our aspirations for a wedding business are modest,” he said. “Overall I believe these changes will also greatly benefit the conservation of the property.”