EXCLUSIVEWe stopped a developer building 300 new homes in our village... but they got revenge in a VERY spiteful way

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Furious residents in a sleepy Somerset village have accused a developer of being 'spiteful' and 'childish' after they threatened to block walkers from a beauty spot in retaliation for being refused permission to build 300 homes on top of it. 

Villagers in South Stoke, nestled in the heart of the countryside just outside of Bath, have been locked in a bitter war with The Hignett Family Trust over their plans to tear up the fields as part of the controversial Sulis Down housing development.

In addition to the 171 homes already constructed on the South Stoke Plateau - a Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - the developers attempted to build 290 extra homes but their plans were rejected in April last year.

The stunning plateau has been at risk of development for more than 20 years and locals have consistently vowed to not back down.

Their victory in April 2024 was short-lived as the developers immediately lodged an appeal and threatened to block public access to the popular walking routes around the fields if they failed.

The Hignett Family Trust's appeal was rejected this week, marking a second victory for the villagers who have a history of winning David and Goliath battles.

In 2016, some 470 South Stoke residents banded together to raise more than £1million to buy back The Packhorse Inn, a 15th century pub behind the fields, in a determined bid to stop the Grade-II listed tavern from being converted into flats. 

Despite defeating developers again this week, residents may still lose access to the fields after The Hignett Family Trust threatened to close off the permissive paths that have always been accessible to residents under 'an act of goodwill'.

Campaigners told MailOnline it is a 'sad reflection on their relationship with the local community', while residents accused the developers of being 'childish'.

Above is the rejected development. There are already 171 homes constructed in Phase 1. Developers submitted plans to build 300 more houses (Phase 3 and 4). If this was approved, they wanted to build around 50 more (Phase 2). The Packhorse Inn which was saved by locals in 2016 is just round the corner (bottom right of map) 

Nicol has been walking around the fields since she was four and now takes her children around them too. She hit out at the 'spiteful' developers for threatening to close the paths off to the public

The red areas are the parts of the plateau which the Hignett Family Trust want to build over, but their plans were rejected

Having lost their appeal, they are now threatening to close off the permissive paths (dotted lines) that allow locals to walk around the fields

Pictured: Campaigners during their battle to save the South Stoke plateau in Somerset

A document outlining the appeal says: 'I am instructed that if the appeal is dismissed, that the Appellant will then take immediate action to prevent further public access. That will take the form of closing access points, removing signage and replacing signage to clearly indicate that access is no longer permitted.'

Among those filled with fury is mother-of-two Nicol, who has been walking the footpaths around the fields near her Bath home since she was four years old. 

Her daughter learned to ride a bike along the hedgerows and her son is currently enjoying his first outings on two wheels on the same stretch of path, far from dangerous roads and busy pavements. 

But Nicol, 28, and her young family's idyllic way of life could soon end - if landowners angry at having their expansive plans for further building development have their way. 

The owners of the land, who are hellbent on building hundreds of new properties in the fields, have threatened to withdraw permissive footpath rights around those fields for locals after their latest application for building permission was rejected. 

Nicol, who has lived in close to the fields all her life, told MailOnline: 'It does seem to me that the developers are motivated by sheer spite and childishness. 

'I've been using these footpaths since I was a small kid and as an adult and mother I've been I'm lucky enough to be able to bring my young son and daughter here too. 

'I walk along them twice a day taking them to school then picking them up in the afternoon. It's not only a shortcut, but an opportunity to spend time with them in the fresh air and beautiful surroundings. It makes me feel like we're in nature. 

'I'm teaching my son, who is four, to ride a bike at the moment and it is perfectly safe. There are no cars and if he does fall, he won't hurt himself too badly because he's landing on grass or soil, rather than concrete. He loves coming this way and so did my daughter, who is five. She learned to ride a bike here too.' 

Aliya (pictured), who works as a nurse at the local NHS hospital, walks her dog, Nala, twice a day around the fields upon which the developers want to build

Sybil (pictured), 84, claimed the stress of having to fight off the developers year after year forced her to have two significant strokes almost two years ago, resulting in a two-week hospital stay

The sprawling green fields have been at risk of development for more than 20 years but locals have consistently vowed not to back down

171 homes were constructed on the plateau just outside of Bath in the heart of the countryside

The paths (pictured) surrounding the fields are now under threat. Locals in South Stoke have hit out at 'greedy' landowners

Campaigners fought to stop 300 more houses being built on the South Stoke plateau. Pictured: One of the western fields which was at threat

The hedge in the distance would have been covered by houses. Campaigners say there are better places the development could be built on

Another resident, Kathy, 71, who worked as a conveyancing assistant before retiring seven years ago, said: 'It is such a shame these developers won't get the message that nobody wants them here. 

'Now they are behaving like spoilt children who don't get their own way when their applications fail, they want to ban us from the footpaths. 

'It is ludicrous. We moved here seven years ago and we love the countryside the way it is. If they build on these fields in the future it will have a massive impact on our lives – the traffic, the noise, the environmental impact. We do not want that here and we will fight it all the way.' 

Meanwhile, Sybil, 84, claimed the stress of having to fight off the developers year after year forced her to have two significant strokes almost two years ago, resulting in a two-week hospital stay, during which time she was on huge quantities of morphine. 

Sybil, who was widowed 10 years ago, said: 'I am in no doubt the stress of the first chunk of housing development and the continued battle with them as they try for more development has been a massive contribution to my ill health. 

'It put me in hospital when I had two strokes and I know they were triggered by the stress of it. 

'I got worked up because I couldn't help thinking how the houses they want to build are getting nearer and nearer to my home. 

'The noise and traffic is already so bad. Sometimes there is so much traffic, most of it related to what they're already building, that it's impossible to even cross the main road outside my house. 

'It used to be so peaceful living here, but now there is far too much disturbance, traffic pollution and noise. I've lived here for 45 years, I brought a family up here with my late husband and now I no longer feel like I'm living in the countryside. 

Pictured: A Cotswold dry stone wall in disrepair on the western plateau

The western fields with one of over 70 trees threatened with removal. The application has been rejected

Residents fear that the developers are now going to close off permissive footpaths around the fields 

'It would be a very very sad day indeed if they now ban us from using the footpath around the fields too. It seems unbelievably childish and spiteful. 

'I walk my dog Charlie twice a day on those footpaths and we always have a lovely time. I can let him off the lead and he can run around. I won't be able to do that anymore if we no longer have the right to use the footpaths. I'll have to walk him on a busy main road. What fun is that for either of us?' 

Another dog walker, 27-year-old Aliya, who works as a nurse at the local NHS hospital, walks her dog, Nala, twice a day around the fields upon which the developers want to build. 

She said: 'It would be heartbreaking if they ever get permission to build here. In the meantime, I just can't believe they now want to stop us walking here on these footpaths. It is such a small-minded gesture by them. They are going to upset a lot of locals. 

'I hope we all continue to work together and if they do ban us from the footpaths, I think we should carry on using them anyway. They won't be able to do much about it if we show solidarity and strength. 

'My dog Nala loves her walks here and so do I. I have a busy job and knowing I can get out into the countryside with Nala twice a day is something I really look forward to. I would hate to lose that.' 

Locals in South Stoke clubbed together to buy back their 15th century pub The Packhorse Inn

Historic photos of The Packhorse in South Stoke, Somerset which has reopened after locals raised a million pounds to save it

Punters enjoyed a pint at the Packhorse Inn when it reopened its doors in 2018 after being bought back by locals in the area

Ned Garnett, who leads campaign group South of Bath Alliance, said: 'We are delighted with the Planning Inspector's decision and that he has recognised the landscape value of the South Stoke plateau and its contribution to the special qualities of the Cotswold National Landscape. 

'It has been a long campaign involving many many people and this is major milestone.'

He too raised fears over the threat of permissive paths closing, telling MailOnline: 'There are a number of permissive paths on the South Stoke plateau which are much used by locals. 

'During the Planning Inquiry the Hignett Family Trust said that they would close these paths if their appeal was unsuccessful. 

'We accept that they are within their rights if they decide to go through with this, but it a sad reflection on their relationship with the local community.'

The 290 homes were planned to be added to the 171 properties built to the west of the plateau as part of the four phase Sulis Down project. It would have taken the total number of homes to 461 - far more than the Local Plan's allowance for 300 homes.

The plans received over 1,173 objections, with locals saying they would severely impact the beauty of the area. Concerns were also raised that the houses could increase local traffic and overwhelm facilities.

Bath and North East Somerset Council's planning committee voted 7-1 to refuse planning permission.

The Hignett Family Trust said the decision was 'unreasonable' and appealed to the Planning Inspectorate.

But rejecting the appeal this week, the inspectorate said the development would have an 'adverse effect' on the Cotswolds landscape and that the decision to refuse permission was correct.

A spokesman for the Hignett Family Trust said: 'No Public Rights of Way Footpaths have been or are proposed to be closed.

'The Hignett Family Trust has created, at its own cost and on its own initiative, additional 'Permissive Paths' for the public to use across its private agricultural land.

'These currently remain in situ, but the legal agreement to operate them has lapsed.

'The Hignett Family Trust is reviewing whether these Permissive Paths will remain operational across what is actively farmed land.'