Latest news with #Claudia Pixley
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Meet the villagers refusing to make way for Britain's new Universal theme park - but fear they could be 'bullied' into moving out anyway
A group of residents is refusing to leave their homes as Universal pushes ahead with a colossal £50bn, 476-acre theme park that will wipe their village off the map. Seven homes, with an average price of £380,500, are believed to have already been bought by the entertainment giant to clear space for the park and a new dual carriageway. Several owners have accepted offers and moved out, while others have been approached with buyout proposals. But a handful of neighbours along Manor Road in Kempston Hardwick, Bedfordshire, are digging in, despite being surrounded by uncertainty and mounting pressure, and say they are determined to stay, despite fears for their future. The developers have sought a 'Special Development Order' which could see them granted powers to compulsory purchase. One resident, Claudia Pixley, 45, who lives with her young daughter in a bungalow set to be trapped between the park site and a sprawling construction compound. She says she has faced intimidation tactics and still has no clear answers on what will happen if she refuses to sell. Ms Pixley, who has lived in her bungalow for a decade and remains one of the few holdouts as bulldozers prepare to move in, said: 'He knocked on my door and I invited him in to talk about what was going to happen. 'When I said I didn't want to move, he said "if you're going to be difficult, we can build the theme park entrance opposite your house". Tenant Ritchie Wood, 54, has lived on Manor Road for ten years and said he would have nowhere to go if his landlord decided to sell 'I couldn't believe it. It was threatening. 'We're just asking for basic human decency. I'd like to see someone come round and speak with us fairly. 'We thought we might be forced to move under the compulsory purchase order but we've now been told that won't be the case. 'Between us residents remaining, we have contacted the borough council and Universal - nobody would tell us anything. 'We still haven't had contact from Universal even to this day.' Universal want to build the dual carriageway next to their homes which will be sandwiched between the theme park and a construction village which is currently being built. Universal Destinations and Experiences operates theme parks and resorts around the world based on the works of the Entertainment conglomerate. They are best known for successful film franchises include Fast and Furious, Jurassic Park, and Despicable Me. The park could be home to Europe's tallest rides reaching 377ft (115m), slated for completion in 2031. Ms Pixley explained that a group of residents had 'descended' upon a parish council meeting in June after not getting answers. She also has concerns over a dual carriageway earmarked along Manor Road which would feed visitors into the park bringing heavy traffic. Universal want to build the dual carriageway next to their homes which will be sandwiched between the theme park and a construction village which is currently being built The householder added: 'This is the only home where I've truly felt happy. I raised my daughter here and we want to stay. 'I know people are all for the theme park and they're excited but we want respect.' Tom, 66, has lived at his home for 31 years and said while he wasn't against the park, locals had been left 'up in the air'. The father-of-two said: 'We used to look out onto fields and now we're facing a construction site for years. 'I think it would be good for the area and for the UK but everything's up in the air at the moment. 'With a divorce, they talk about 'what you're accustomed to'. We're not going to get any of that. 'I wouldn't be prepared to move but if there was no other point and it was for the right deal, I guess we'd have to. 'It's bullying.' The remaining Manor Road residents say those who have already struck a deal and moved out were happy with the compensation they received. However some locals have also been asked to sign non-disclosure agreements by the company working on behalf of Universal. Tenant Ritchie Wood, 54, has lived on Manor Road for ten years and said he would have nowhere to go if his landlord decided to sell. Ritchie, who works in construction, said: 'If they do buy it off my landlord, where am I going to go? They'd be taking away my home. 'I'd want Universal to rehome me. The theme park is a good thing for the economy but there needs to be some sort of fair compensation. 'I can't understand why they won't speak to us. My concern is the lack of contact. 'It is a worry as to what is going to happen to our homes. 'My parents are in their 80s and they live five minutes down the road. I want to be close to them. 'But even if I looked at other villages nearby, it'd be triple the rent. 'Universal have sent letters saying they'd acquired land but they're all a generic address to the homeowner or occupier. 'You'd think they'd at least learn our names.' When contacted by the BBC, Universal's PR representative declined to comment. MailOnline approached Universal for comment. In documents submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Universal proposes building attractions reaching up to 377 feet (115 metres) - making them taller than any ride currently operating in Europe. The current tallest ride in the UK is Thorpe Park's Hyperia, standing at 236 feet (72 metres), while the tallest ride in Europe is Red Force at 367 feet (112 metres), located at PortAventura World in Spain. 'The reason for proposing structures up to this maximum height is to allow the proposed theme park to compete with other attractions in Europe,' according to the documents. 'Although the Universal Orlando Resort does not currently have attractions up to this height, taller attractions are more common in Europe, where rides need to be taller to create the experience, as space is more constrained. 'Building attractions that are higher, rather than over greater areas, also makes the best use of land which is in line with planning policy.' Universal Studios is expected to welcome 8.5 million visitors annually, with 55,000 guests on peak days. The park will be accessed via a grand tree-lined boulevard for drivers and a purpose-built transport hub for public transport users. Guests will arrive at a large entry plaza - open to ticket-holders and non-ticket-holders alike - featuring restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues. Paying guests will enter the main park through an iconic Universal archway.
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Universal ‘bullying' residents from their homes for £50bn theme park
Bedfordshire villagers said they feel 'threatened' by representatives for Britain's biggest theme park, who plan to demolish at least a dozen homes. The residents of Manor Road in Kempston Hardwick, said they are facing pressure to relocate to create space for the new 476-acre £50 billion Universal theme park. Seven homes where the average price is £380,500 are believed to have already been bought by Universal and will be demolished to make way for the park and new dual carriageway. Some residents have moved out after accepting formal offers for their homes, while others have had representatives visit their homes and ask them if they'd be willing to sell. At least three of the homeowners have told Universal they do not wish to sell, and said they now fear for their future. Claudia Pixley, 45, said she felt 'threatened' and 'bullied' by a representative working on the construction site for Universal when she said she was not sure if she wanted to move from the home where she lives with her seven-year-old daughter. Ms Pixley has lived in her bungalow for ten years, and said she was approached by a construction representative to discuss what could happen. She said: 'When I said I didn't want to move, he said 'if you're going to be difficult, we can build the theme park entrance opposite your house'. 'I couldn't believe it. It was threatening. We're just asking for basic human decency. I'd like to see someone come round and speak with us fairly. Ms Pixley added that she and other residents are upset by the lack of communication from Universal and explained that a group of residents had 'descended' upon a parish council meeting in June after not getting answers. She said: 'Between us residents remaining, we contacted the borough council and Universal – nobody would tell us anything.' Plans for the Universal park – expected to be home to some of Europe's tallest rides reaching 377 ft – were announced by Sir Keir Starmer in April, and are slated for completion in 2031. Universal claims the resort will create roughly 28,000 jobs and deliver a £50 billion boost to the economy. Sir Keir said upon the announcement: 'Today we closed the deal on a multibillion-pound investment that will see Bedford home to one of the biggest entertainment parks in Europe, firmly putting the county on the global stage.' Ritchie Wood, 54, has lived on Manor Road for ten years and said he would expect Universal to 'rehome him' if his landlord decided to sell. Mr Wood, who works in construction, said: 'If they do buy it off my landlord, where am I going to go? They'd be taking away my home. 'I'd want Universal to rehome me. The theme park is a good thing for the economy but there needs to be some sort of fair compensation. Universal Destinations and Experiences operates theme parks and resorts around the world based on the works of the entertainment conglomerate. They are best known for successful film franchises include Fast & Furious, Jurassic Park, and Despicable Me.
