THE developer named in controversial claims that a holiday village could take shape next to exclusive apartments in a country house says the stories are nonsense.
However residents say they cannot believe him because people have been found on the disputed area looking over 'plots with a view' they have already been offered.
And concerned district councillor Stephen McMillan called for a full site inspection on Tuesday afternoon to see the extent of clearance work which has already taken place.
Gloucester developer Richard Hearne told the Review on Tuesday morning he had no present plans for land he bought last year from Eddie Coombs next door to The Haie at Newnham.
He says his workmen have only been cleaning up the ground, which has standing planning permission to erect 30 chalet-style holiday dwellings.
"This is the first I've heard of it. Nobody has asked me anything about it. You got my number easily enough, didn't you?" said Mr Hearne. "I've just cleared the wood up, that's all."
Asked if he thought the fears of residents were unfounded he said "yes" and repeated it was only a clean-up.
Mr Coombs bought The Haie around 20 years ago and was given permission for the chalets and a holiday complex, but later converted the house into luxury homes. Last year he sold the six-acre plot with approval for the chalets to Mr Hearne.
Forest planners have been asked by the residents to rescind the approval. Many factors have changed since the original application, they say – including the fact that the main house was designated as a holiday complex HQ in the original scheme.
Its change of use to dwellings negates the plan, says long-time resident Julia Ingram, and clearing mature trees from the ground without further permission is just one condition they have contravened.
A council spokesman on Tuesday admitted no approach to rekindle the plan had yet been made by Mr Hearne.