Neighbours of a posh campsite have claimed trendy fire pits with ‘excessive smoke’ are forcing them to sell their homes.
Villagers in Frogham say Harry’s Field in Hampshire’s New Forest, which opened in 2015, is a fire hazard and ‘intrusive’ air pollution has even worsened their asthma.
Others have sold up and moved away after the site, which opened in 2015, became ‘intolerable’ and caused the area to ‘stink’, the council has been told.
The campsite, managed by a renowned hatmaker for the
Royal Family
, has a population of just over 340, with houses selling for an average price of more than £700,000 last year.
The uproar comes as earlier this month, homeowners won a planning battle to stop the site from increasing the number of days it is allowed to open from 28 to 52.
Vivien Sheriff – whose designs have been worn by the
Duchess of Cambridge
– argued the business would not be able to operate if what neighbours complained of was true.
The Sheriff family, owner of three campsites in the New Forest, made the application in December last year but were met with strong objections from more than 30 locals.
As part of his protest, Steve King, 63, said the fire pits provided by owners have caused a ‘major inconvenience’ to neighbours as it is ‘impossible for people nearby to enjoy their own outdoor spaces during the summer’.
The training consultant added the smoke blowing over from the fires ‘stinks’ – and causes air pollution.
Fire pits are rented out to guests by the campsite, costing £15 for one night, £20 for two nights, £25 for three nights, and £30 for four nights.
Campers are provided with one ‘load’ of kiln dried wood, but are charged £8 a bucket afterwards.
Objecting publicly, Stephen Havelock said the campsite had brought ‘misery, noise and nuisance to this quiet village’.
Mr Havelock spoke of the use of fire pits and said the campsite is ‘extremely close’ to open forest and gorse which is a ‘tinderbox in summer’.
He said: ‘Sparks could also burn and ignite the tents on site with disastrous consequences.
‘This makes no sense at all. Just look at the fires in Los Angeles.
‘In spite of what the current owners say, BBQs are commonplace.’
The homeowner went on to claim Harry’s Field is ‘detested’ by many locals, who ‘dread the start of the campsite opening as it makes their lives a misery’.
He said: ‘I believe that three residents have sold up and moved away largely because this campsite had made their lives intolerable.
‘Noise, shouting, loud music, excessive smoke and antisocial behaviour being the main causes.’
Helen Taylor, who works as a vet and lives right next to Harry’s Field said she has been ‘plagued’ by problems caused by the campsite, which was once voted in the Top 40 UK campsites.
She said open fires as well as gas and charcoal barbeques are used by campers on a ‘daily basis’.
Dr Taylor added: ‘Residents have suffered significant worsening of their asthmatic symptoms as a result of this smoke pollution.’
Harry’s Field is a family-run business which describes itself as a ‘small campsite run by campers for campers’.
The site provides facilities like ‘proper flushing loos’, shower blocks, communal freezers, a campsite shop, a coffee and drinks van, and a pizza oven at weekends.
Ms Sheriff, 60, said she was encouraged by planning chiefs at the council to apply for permission to extend their opening days and was under the impression issues over the campsite had quietened down.
She said: ‘The main fact is nobody wants a quiet campsite more than we do.
‘There is no way we would be able to run if what [neighbours] were saying is true.
‘We were asked and encouraged to do this by the director of the national park planning team.
‘This has been stormed up by a few people who have really got an axe to grind.’
But Ms Kerr – who lives in a thatched cottage – raised concerns for her health and home due to the fire pits in her objection.
She said she had to keep her windows shut in the summer, adding: ‘We have smelt accelerant being used to light fire pits and we can see the flames through the hedge.
‘My insurance company won’t allow me to have any type of open fire, in my garden as my property has a thatched roof and yet I can watch ash and burning debris being blown towards our my property when the wind is in my direction.’
Michael and Theresa Mayes said living next to Harry’s Field has been ‘challenging and detrimental to health’ for neighbours.
The couple said the site is in an ‘unusual position’ as it is situated in the heart of a small hamlet in fields surrounded by residential housing.
They said this has created a ‘goldfish bowl effect’ which has resulted in an ‘extremely unpleasant environment for all those living in the village’.
Another resident said the’ ‘pungent fire pit smoke causes us to shut our windows and doors and retreat indoors on the days when we should be enjoying our gardens and warm weather’.
Locals concluded living next to the campsite has been an ‘unpleasant, challenging and sometimes downright nasty experience for local people’.
They said they have seen campers feeding livestock foods like biscuits, doughnuts, and crisps – which is forbidden in the New Forest.
Some claimed while the site is only permitted to open for 28 days, there have been several occasions when the owners have ‘illegally’ extended this.
And they complained of ‘anti-social behaviour’ from campers, including incidents’ of trespass, urinating in neighbours’ hedges and feeding livestock.
Last week, New Forest Park Authority rejected the application for Harry’s Field to open for 52 days per year.
The council said the proposed development would have an ‘unacceptable adverse impact’ on neighbouring properties.
Harry’s Field is home to the annual village fete – famous for its uphill wheelbarrow race – and Ms Sheriff’s family-run campsite business.
For over 20 years, Ms Sheriff, 60, has run Vivien Sheriff Ltd, a millinery business.
She is said to create ‘exceptionally original, undeniably British, luxury headwear’ which has been worn by the Duchess of Cambridge – including for her first Royal engagement in 2011 – as well as her sister Pippa Middleton.
The hatmaker added: ‘Sadly, these are totally unsubstantiated, unevidenced and hysterical claims made by someone totally impartial with the aim of evoking a strong emotional reaction.
‘Our closest neighbour to the campsite site has a thatched roof and supports our application (there are no other thatched roofs within close proximity of the site at all). Many in the village also support our small and well run Campsite.
‘We limit the amounts of fire pits used, and we only use kiln dried logs which create hardly any smoke. The claims of asthma and of people moving from the village is unfortunately complete and utter nonsense.
‘The facts remain that there is no evidence whatsoever of smoke or noise pollution.’
A tent pitch at Harry’s Field costs £21 per night with an additional cost of £11 per adult and £5 per child.
Campers can also stay in luxury glamping tents, which cost £730 for six nights.
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