A man whose home known as “Fiesta land” is under threat of demolition to pave way for 4,000 homes near the M5, fears he won’t be able to afford a similar property with the compensation he’s being offered.
Andrew Smith, of Uckington, near Cheltenham, has been losing sleep over the stress of the situation for months.
The 63-year-old’s three-bedroom semi-detached former council house is likely to be razed for the Elms Park development near junction 10 of the motorway. However, Mr Smith argues that Gloucestershire County Council’s offer falls short of enabling him to purchase a comparable property in the area.
He operates a business from his home where he collects, repairs, and sells Ford cars, earning it the nickname “Fiesta Land” due to the 33 vehicles currently parked there. But now, he’s been forced to put them up for sale due to his impending relocation.
The stress, Mr Smith says, is unprecedented. “I can’t shut down” he expressed.
“I used to work for F1 and drove articulated lorries for long hours for companies who had contracts with Benetton, Prost Grand Prix and McLaren,”reports Gloucestershire Live.
Born and raised in Whaddon, the Cheltonian hopes to move his 88 year old mother in with him, but fears the compensation he’s being offered will make that impossible.
He had hoped to secure planning permission to build an annexe for his mother and late father, but was informed that it would be impossible due to impending redevelopment plans. “One of the last things my father said to me was look after your mother,” he shared.
“It breaks my heart and I’ve broken down several times. I bought this house in 2002.”
“I didn’t want to sell. This is all I’ve ever wanted.
“But as time has gone on… I tried to get mum and dad here.”
“Everything I’ve wanted to do here. I wanted to put an annexe here but planners would never allow it because of the forthcoming Elms Park.”
“I thought you know what. I’m sitting tight here until somebody makes me a sensible offer.”
“I’ve got a mortgage to settle.”
Mr Smith has been told by Gloucestershire County Council that there are no immediate plans to demolish the properties for another two years. He noted that most of the neighbouring homes have been vacant for up to a decade.
His home is included in the yet-to-be-finalised outline planning application for the Elms Park project. “Mine is the only privately owned home along here,” he stated.
“I’m not against progress but they need to make me a sensible offer. Persimmon and Bloor Homes approached me years ago. They wanted to purchase me.”
He also mentioned that a highways worker hinted at the possibility of a roundabout or traffic calming system being installed where his house currently stands.
Mr Smith claims he was approached with an offer of around £850,000 for his three-bedroom semi, but insists it’s not enough given the enviable 0.2-acre location. “They’ve offered me £850,000. You can see the cars,” he said, expressing dissatisfaction with the available alternatives.
“What’s out there for the equivalent amount of money is just not there. They’re taking Michael.”
He continued by sharing the challenges faced in finding a comparable property: “I’m not selfish. They’ve told me my property is complicated because they can’t provide me with the funds to get the equivalent or the equivalent is not out there.”
Mr Smith has even put forward his own solution: “I’ve even said to them, find me a plot of land. Let’s agree the figure, let’s take it off the house and I’ll get a builder to build a bungalow there so I can care for my mum.”
A Gloucestershire County Council spokesperson declined to comment on individual cases but did state the overall situation regarding land acquisition for a major infrastructural development. “We are currently negotiating with landowners over the purchase of their property where required to facilitate delivery of the M5 Junction 10 scheme,” he explained.
“In this case the land is required to enable the associated widening of the A4019 Tewkesbury Road. GCC has presented an offer to the property owner that accounts for both the valuation of the property in accordance with relevant standards and guidance and also considers relevant compensation which acknowledges the landowner’s situation.”
“These negotiations are confidential, and we cannot comment further on these. As well as widening of the A4019 Tewkesbury Road the scheme proposals will see significant improvements to M5 Junction 10 and the creation of a new road linking Junction 10 to West Cheltenham.”
“The scheme proposals are necessary to unlock proposed and future housing and employment growth in West and North West Cheltenham.”