The 'field gate' at Turville Court

A gate erected by the couple who founded the Dreams bed retail chain is a nightmare apparition which blocks views of an area of outstanding natural beauty, say objectors.

Bucks Ramblers and the Open Spaces Society have urged a council to reject a retrospective planning application for the structure, described by multi-millionaires Michael and Carol Clare at their Turville Court home in Buckinghamshire, as a ‘field gate’.

But objectors say the gate is nothing of the sort. Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, said: “The structure is not a field gate at all.  ‘Field gate’ sounds nice and rustic, but in fact it is a metal wall, painted dark green, with a right-angle bend.  You cannot see through it.

“It is adjacent to the well used bridleway which runs from Turville village, over the hill to the woods and fields beyond. It is highly visible from that route and blocks the lovely view to the South, across the valley to the wooded hillside beyond. It is totally out of keeping in the Chilterns area of outstanding natural beauty.

“We have urged Wycombe District Council to reject this application and to ensure that the ugly and unlawful ‘gate’ is removed forthwith.”

The Clares built their bed empire from a single shop in Uxbridge, west London. The company was sold to a private-equity group for a sum estimated to be more than £200m. The Turville Court estate is worth £22m.