Campaigners are fighting to save a historic Nottinghamshire property from demolition. The building in question is a pre-Victorian stone and brick built cottage believed to be one of the oldest buildings in Kimberley, if not the oldest.
Members of Kimberley Historical Society fear plans to demolish the building could be the precursor to opening up the area for housing development on a nearby field. One said: "This cottage should be on the cover of a box of chocolates, not in pieces in a skip."
Planning documents were submitted on behalf of developers to Broxtowe Borough Council indicating a vision to knock down the cottage to 'permit future residential development'. The council told the applicant MyPad, developers working on a number of projects across Nottinghamshire, prior planning approval for the demolition was not needed, meaning the demolition work can take place subject to certain conditions.
Read more: Decision to extend E-Scooter trial with thousands of daily users
Campaigners had begged Broxtowe Borough Council to hold off making a decision and have written to Save Britain's Heritage. They are currently awaiting a response.
Society chairman Steve Arundel said the rural cottage at 4 Church Hill dates back to at least 1835 and is one of Kimberley's few rural remnants. The property precedes the town's main church and the adjacent primary school, which were built in 1847 and 1879 respectively.
Mr Arundel said: "Kimberley is a typical coal-mining town which was a rural village at the time the cottage was built, and now consists of around 6,000 residents. The cottage dominates the local views, and its demolition appears to be a speculative move to open up a field for housing behind and to the side of it.
"The fact it's on a 13 percent incline is not the best place to have a future housing estate exit onto what is still a narrow road. Sadly, although it is bounded on two sides by Kimberley Conservation Area, it is not within it."
Roy Plumb, chairman of Kimberley Historical Society, has strongly objected to the plan to demolish the cottage. "This quirky property, which is known to have included a staircase adjacent to the living room fireplace, dominates the view both up and down Church Hill.
"It is a stand-out feature, and an increasingly rare example of a rural landscape in Kimberley as it has transitioned into a dormitory town for Nottingham. Photographs of this building taken today, when compared with archive photos, show an almost unchanged appearance of the property and its vicinity over the last hundred years.
"Kimberley has lost several unique properties to developers over the years, and we don’t wish this to be added to the roll call of Kimberley’s vanished heritage.
"We believe the only reason this is to be demolished is to provide more significant access to the adjacent field, for which a planning application for a new housing estate can be expected. Any increase in traffic emerging from an entrance half-way down Church Hill would be fraught with additional risk to local residents and any occupiers of new properties.
"The circulatory system of traffic along Church Hill/High Street has been restricted since 1990, making part of High Street one-way, which successfully reduced the numbers of HGVs and other vehicles using Church Hill. The prospect of increased traffic in this area cannot be welcomed."
The society is "begging" Broxtowe Borough Council to implement an Article 4 Directive, which is used to control works that could threaten the character of an area of acknowledged importance, and to defer the demolition.
The application to demolish the property was made by John Turner of MyPad, in Beeston, a company which provides developers with ready-made opportunities for residential developments. Nottinghamshire Lived contacted him for a response.
A spokesperson for Broxtowe Borough Council said: "Whilst we appreciate that some local residents feel passionately about this building, the council must comply with the relevant planning legislation. The application was assessed on planning grounds and all relevant comments were considered before the decision was made."
The plans make clear that before any demolition work starts, the developers will make an application to Nottinghamshire County Council to partially close a road and pathway during the programme. A statement in the plans reads: "Dwelling is no longer required and is to allow the site to be re-developed for residential purposes."
READ NEXT:
- Checks to be carried out on school meals to ensure standards
- First look as Wollaton Hall's 'spectacular' Christmas light show returns
- Café owner considering future after 40% parking price hike
- Chippy's new deep-fried mince pies which are 'naughty and nice'
- Bus driver stole more than £72k from employer and colleagues
