Saturday 30 March 2019

Wilful Devaluation.



Above shows the close proximity between our friend's Tobacco barn right next to ours (still under conversion), and the holiday 'boxes' just behind her. The photo is a little deceptive, as they are much closer than it appears.

There are three, maybe more, properties that have been seriously affected by the building of our delightful hamlet's holiday village/restaurant/pool/shouting area/etc complex.

Devaluation of property values may not be met with tears from all quarters, but for those with mortgages based on original purchase price, it can be a very serious matter. Of course, I have no idea if any mortgages are involved here; but the threat of 'negative equity' is always there.

Luckily we, ourselves, are not overly affected by the 'Container Village', but several of our neighbours are. Our immediate neighbours, who live in a lovely old farmhouse, will soon have noise and crowds literally a few metres on the other side of their boundary fence; within a stone's-throw of their kitchen terrace. The old Tobacco barn, next to our own (above), now looks out onto the whole construction site (the pool etc has yet to be built). Another small converted barn backs right onto the site. And yet another converted barn, amongst several ruins, is right opposite where there will soon be constant comings and goings at the site's entrance. All of these property owners must be furious; the few with whom we've discussed the shameful affair certainly ARE.


A couple of years ago, if anyone had told us that a group of converted shipping containers would soon be planted in the middle of our tiny hamlet; we would have laughed. However, the local planning authorities, and our own village Mairie, have supported this outrageous money-making scheme, and brought untold misery to the few residents. The worst, of course, is yet to come when the village actually opens for business. Everyone (and I mean everyone) who knows about the project, is horrified.

The more the site advances, the more I despair. I cannot imagine anyone wanting to spend their precious Summer holidays in such an environment, but no doubt some will. You'd have to enjoy sitting in cramped conditions, shoulder to shoulder with other families, their dogs, radios, and children, amongst all the noise and chaos that that brings. Your only peace would come from locking yourself back into your own tiny metal box.

Why on earth he didn't think a little more carefully about his project, I don't know. Our only saviour will be total rejection by the holidaying public, and the project will die a natural death. The question will then be; what will he do with two rows of half-covered empty metal boxes?

The man at the helm is a nice enough guy, but why he was allowed to progress with this crazy project astounds us all.

Meanwhile the property values of those houses most affected have been severely reduced; they have become almost unsaleable. One resident is actually an Estate Agent, and has probably suffered the most. For a once highly desirable small hamlet, this has been a disaster.

If Macron wishes to attract popularity (around here, anyway), he should have the whole site bulldozed.



30 comments:

  1. Do the really expect to open this year. Surely no-one will want to stay there and they will be left with half a dozen sheds.

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    1. I don't think he'll be ready for this year, but I agree about the desirability; I can't imagine anyone wanting to stay there, you'd only have to look at the publicity photos!

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  2. I am still amazed that the Mairie agreed to this. Totally inappropriate for this location.

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    1. It just gets worse and worse. They are so ugly and soul-less.

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  3. And here I was thinking local planning rules were designed to prevent totally inappropriate schemes like this?

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    1. There was a huge petition against the project, signed by almost everyone in the village. Did they take any notice? Like hell they did. It's a disgrace.

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  4. It looks more like a missile shelter, we could use it here.

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    1. You're right. With 50 cms of concrete on top, they'd make perfect individual shelters!

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  5. It all looks and sounds horrendous Cro. Do you know how much it will be to stay there ? I cannot imagine anyone wanting to cough up their hard earned cash to holiday there. It looks and would feel like a prison camp to me. Hopefully, it will be shunned by holiday makers and will die a death. XXXX

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    1. It would have to be very cheap, possibly the same as pitching a tent somewhere. I know which I'd prefer!

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  6. Oh my, and there was I feeling upset about some huge sheds our neighbour built along the boundary at the bottom of our garden - I definitely would not want to swap those for your shipping container village. Could you not find a friendly arsonist?

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    1. I think we'll simply have to rely on a discerning public.

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  7. Do you know if he is required to put up an earth mound barrier? This would at least help absorb some of the sounds and effectively hide it from view.

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    1. He has to plant a hedge all around, and build an earth bank, but no-one seems to know exactly how big they have to be.

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    2. Earth mounds here are about 12 feet high with a corresponding base.

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    3. I agree with Rachel, the earth banks should be high enough to block it out. Who owns the land that directly attaches to the holiday accomodation? If that was us, I would have already bought in trees and hedging and been growing it on. All the ones no one wants in their garden, to stop noise, BBQ smells and smoke and to dissuade people from wandering on to their land. There was a TV programme about front gardens in towns where they needed to stop pollution entering the house and causing asthma in the children of the household. They also named a lot of trees that helped to block out the noise. Damn I wish I could remember the name of the programme. I will think about it and it will come to me. Everyone should start taking hedge cuttings right now. Block them all out and cut out their light.

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    4. it could have been that programme, Trust me I am a Dr.

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    5. We are considering options!

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  8. Maybe there will be a huge fire before they open and everything will be a total loss...

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    1. Not that I'm suggesting anything, mind you!

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    2. I should hope not. It would be awful.

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  9. It looks as if the mayor might have benefited from this planning approval.

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  10. If I was going on a vacation in the French countryside staying in a metal container next to others people in metal containers does not sound like the French countryside to me.
    This is so awful for you, your friends and the village.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. I can imagine that it will be very hot and uncomfortable in the summer if there isnt enough dirt put on the tops

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    2. That's exactly what we've been saying, Parsnip. It sounds like a nightmare. Sol, there is earth on top, but it remains to be seen how insulating it is!

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  11. The planning authority and your mayor are a disgrace for allowing the effective destruction of an old hamlet. They must be very cheap to hire for a holiday. I would prefer a tent, and that is saying something.

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    1. I'm certain that the man who's building them would never stay in one for his annual holiday.... and as for his wife!!!

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