A FORMER owner of the Hare and Hounds in Westonbirt said a planned accommodation block for hotel staff was ‘out of character’ and would add to the ‘unpleasant’ smells coming from a sewage treatment plant nearby.

The proposed block of 10 bedsits, to be built on former tennis and squash courts closed several years ago, was granted planning permission by Cotswold District Council on Friday, April 7.

But former owner of the hotel Jeremy Price, 72, who also lives nearby, was not happy with the decision, saying that although it was next to a conservation area, it would not be built in the traditional Cotswold style.

According to the planning application’s design and access statement, the house will have stone and timber walls and a blue slate roof.

He said: “The new ‘out of character’ building, despite the surrounding hedge, will greatly detract from the beauty and rural atmosphere of the gardens.

“It is of course the grounds of the hotel which are such an attraction both to those staying at the hotel and for the many wedding receptions held there.

“I am sure that this ill advised scheme will prove to be one which the hotel owners will come to regret in the future.”

According to Mr Price, one reason why residents strongly objected to the proposed block was that it would worsen the ‘unpleasant smells’ coming from the sewage treatment plant in front of the hotel.

He also said: “Rather than attracting staff from the local area, the hotel relies on bringing in employees from other parts of Britain and abroad, thus doing nothing for local employment.

“Currently some of these are accommodated in Tetbury but the management says that they find it too much trouble to provide transport.

The owner of the hotel for 30 years said that accommodating staff within the grounds of the hotel would lead to problems.

He said: “The occupants of the hostel are likely to be mostly young and single with absolutely nothing to do in their spare time.

“Many will have no independent means of transport and the hotel management themselves point to the inadequacy of the local bus service.

“Consequent boredom is bound to lead to noise and disruption as well as off-duty staff ‘hanging around’ the hotel hindering the working staff in their duties.”