Beyonces bolt hole investigated by planners
Last year, the NWN reported that the international singing star was staying on the estate, where neighbours had been sworn to secrecy, for the northern European leg of her tour.
Far from keeping a low profile, the star went shopping in Mothercare on Newbury Retail Park, spoke to shoppers and handed out precious tickets to her sell- out London concerts.
The singer’s stay on the Hampshire/Berkshire border co-incided with a flurry of helicopter activity above the village. It is these flights, including those late at night, that triggered a recent complaint to East Woodhay Parish Council, whose February 24 minutes record that villager, Rosemary David, had raised the issue of “Excessive helicopter traffic” from the estate.
Mrs David also informed the parish council there was an ongoing case with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC), whose officers were investigating an alleged lack of various planning permissions at the same estate.
BDBC confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that allegations currently under investigation regarding the same estate included: change of use to residential without planning permission; and change of use to commercial (helicopter business) without planning permission.
It continued: “The initial complaint related to the two allegations and since then a further complaint has been received in respect of the construction of a heli-pad. We have visited the site and met with the owners’ representatives and the enforcement case remains ongoing.”
No planning permission had been granted for a permanent helipad on the land, according to the borough council.
Rumours that Beyonce may be among bidders for a new property Fox Hall, Fox’s Lane, built on the edge of Kingsclere with an estimated value in excess of £4m, have been quashed by estate agents. Rupert Reeves, for agents Carter Jonas who are handling the sale, said the three-floor, Georgian-style property, had been removed from the market, following interest from two bidders. “The bidders are talking to developers about the finishing specifications - if we don’t secure a sale it will be relaunched about May,” said Mr Reeves.
The two bidders, he continued, did not include any celebrities.
