Fans of Agatha Christie Opposed to Housing Estate
A housing estate is planned near a home where Agatha Christie once lived in Oxfordshire. Fans of the writer are objecting to these plans and have begun campaigns to stop it.
Agatha Christie lived in Winterbook House in Wallingford for forty two years. The South Oxfordshire District Council want to build almost one thousand homes in the peaceful village which will result in a busy junction being formed just feet away from the Grade II listed building. Other houses around it are planned to be demolished in an effort to make room for the newer housing.
This real house that Agatha's character home was based on is known to fans as Danemead, the home of Miss Marple in St Mary Mead's village. The fans feel that the estate is being built too close to 'Miss Marple's former home' and are saying the village will be tarnished.
Backing the campaign is Cathy Cook who runs an Agatha Christie website, she believes the village will be ruined if they build here and states that the writer and her family loved the surrounding area. Cathy comments that you only have to read Agatha's books to realise this as she makes reference to village life and its events throughout them.
Hundreds of fans visit the village each year since the author died in 1976. Forty year old Gregor Kleinknecht and his wife Karen, along with their two children are the current owners of the property. Gregor feels that they would be directly affected if the housing estate were to be built as the entrance to the estate would be right in front of their home.
Applications
Wates Development are currently waiting for their plans for over a hundred homes to be built on the edge of the village to be approved and they will submit their housing estate application later on in the year.
Angie Paterson who works in the planning department at South Oxfordshire District Council has stated that all effects to the surrounding areas are taken into account, particularly for a listed building and all opinions would be taken into consideration.
