Furious row erupts in pretty English village as developer slammed for using 'loophole'

Residents of the quaint village of Monxton, near Andover in Hampshire, are embroiled in a fierce eight-year battle to save their beloved village green.

The green was acquired by a developer alongside a neighbouring car park and pub, sparking fears of newbuild houses and relentless planning wars.

Mike Cleugh, chair of Monxton Parish Council and a resident since 2000, voiced his concerns over future developments, adding that he has been "worn out" by the ongoing issue.

He told the Daily Mail: "There would potentially be two/three houses with a back garden onto the river. Imagine what they would sell for. This has been the main issue for eight years. One of my big fears is he just puts a fence around it.

"This could even be the garden of some nice executive home, all bad outcomes for us. I'm worn out by this. I've been at it for years."

DC Li Builders purchased the failed Black Swan pub and its car park in 2016. However, due to a "historical quirk", it transpired that ownership of the pub, dating back to 1650, also included ownership of the green as the car park had been constructed on part of the green in the 1960s.

Sarah Dowding, a 15-year resident of the village, joined forces with Cleugh to spearhead a campaign to buy the pub through a community scheme, preserving it for future generations.

She said: "We listed it as an asset of community value. It was on the market for £475,000 + VAT. We had valuations at £270,000. We offered £250,000, they said you can't buy it."

Despite having a landlord ready to take over the pub, the developer snapped up the green, pub and car park for a mere £225,000.

The move, according to Cleugh, "literally ripped the heart out of this village", home to approximately 550 residents and 90 homes.

Test Valley Borough Councillors then unanimously voted to convert the dilapidated pub, sold off by Enterprise Inns to offset its mounting debts, into a residence, despite this contradicting council strategy.

The property was subsequently sold by the developer to a family for £400,000 in cash. Cleugh added: "He failed to get planning applications for houses on the car park, and he failed twice to get change of use.

"He did try to put in a planning application to move the substation in the carpark to the front of the green, which would ruined the green, and build on the car park.

"Then he got a family to buy the pub so he could split the title and develop on the car park and village green. He tried to get planning permission for five years and we have stopped each one."

As tensions escalated, villagers attempted to negotiate with the developer to exchange land, where the village hall stood, with the car park.

The plan involved a direct exchange, with a high-end village hall being constructed next to the green, while the developer could erect homes on the site of the old village hall.

However, the dispute between the locals and developers Dique Li and his son Joe escalated this year when signs stating "Private Land - No access without permission" appeared on the green.

Residents have been advised to create a neighbourhood plan, which would give them a say on future developments and their neighbourhood's future. Although it can hinder developers, it can cost thousands to implement and is a lengthy process.

Despite the green technically being owned by the developer, the council still spends around £800 a year on its maintenance.

DC Li Builders have yet to submit any planning applications for the green but petition to save the green has garnered over 240 signatures, calling on Test Valley Borough Council to implement a plan prohibiting any development.

As part of a campaign to safeguard the green, long-term Monxton villagers were asked to provide evidence of their use of the village green.

Express.co.uk has approached DC Li Builders for comment.