Objections have been raised in a heritage village over a boutique hotel owner’s bid to build a four-bedroomed home in the grounds, reports Nick Hartland.

Richard Secular of the former Royal George in Tintern, now known as The Wild Hare, has applied to build the house on the rear car park and wasteland to the west of the hotel off Forge Road.

But Tintern Community Council has objected, claiming that the development will see the loss of up to “12 parking spaces” beside the 16th century listed property, with peak visitor times in the popular tourism destination already causing traffic issues on the Wye Valley road and elsewhere.

A statement by TCC to Monmouthshire Council planners says: “Tintern already suffers from substantial problems with parking capacity, due to the large visitor/tourist population regularly exceeding the available car parking provision in the village.

“On a regular basis all car parking spaces in the village are full and, as a result, cars are parked on the public highways, verges and residential lanes, understandably causing public safety and traffic issues and local residential concerns.

“If the proposed development is allowed, this would result in the loss of approximately 12 car parking spaces at the rear of the hotel premises.

“Tintern Community Council cannot support any proposal which would have the consequence of reducing the availability of car parking spaces in the village.”

Mr Secular, who took over the hotel with wife Harriet in 2018, has told planners that there will be 38 car parking spaces left, not the 28 claimed by objectors.

His application says: “As the owner of the Royal George Hotel, I’m proposing to build a family home for my wife and daughter so that we’re on site at all times and can continue the development of the hotel.

“Since purchasing the hotel in 2018 we now employ 32 people, twice as many as the previous owners and have really created a sense of community in Tintern by creating a pub called The Wild Hare within the hotel.

“Throughout the lockdown this year we did not make a single person redundant and by choosing the right strategy we have actually created another three full-time and two part-time jobs.

“We continue to invest all of our profits into the property and business to ensure a secure future for ourselves and our employees.”

Paula and Doug Gibson of the neighbouring Grade II-listed Crown Lodge have objected to the scheme, saying the removal of hotel parking will “lead to excessive on-street parking, which is already at a dangerous level”, including on the narrow and busy Forge Road.

They also claim it will harm the village conservation area, is “not in keeping” with the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty landscape, and will cause them a loss of privacy.

The county council planning committee discussed the application at its last meeting and voted to defer a decision to obtain more information from the applicant about future parking provision at the hotel.