A BLOCKLEY polio victim says a planned development adjacent to his home would 'rob him of his life' and leave him 'imprisoned with no prospect of release'.

Chris Bazeley, who lives at Sunnyhuckle Cottage with his wife, Rhea, claims his life would be destroyed if the go-ahead is given for the development which would be just 20 feet from the home he and his wife adapted so he could live and work in comfort.

Nearly 30 years ago the couple found their sanctuary in the cottage and set about transforming it to spend the rest of their lives in peace and security.

Now CALA homes plans to build in the ancient field of Little Shoe Broad outside their cottage and build 33 homes on their doorstep. Those against the development have also highlighted the potential loss of wildlife and the increased threat of flooding.

Mr Bazeley, a freelance illustrator who is confined to his wheelchair said: “The development of Little Shoe Broad would do irredeemable and catastrophic damage to my life.

“It would deal a blow to me almost as serious, painful and threatening as the original polio that put me in this position so many years ago.

“We bought Sunnyhuckle Cottage in 1988, purely because it gave us the opportunity to extend a beautiful old house and create a totally wheelchair-accessible environment, in which I could happily spend the rest of my life.

“This investment is specific to my personal needs and would be of little value to anyone else - an investment and equity that would be completely lost if the destruction of the environment in which our home is situated is allowed to go ahead.

“At this late stage in my life I am not prepared to live in the centre of a modern residential development and would find it impossible to remain in this house if the development is allowed to proceed.

“CALA Homes' proposed development of Little Shoe Broad, which constitutes the entire view outside my home, will effectively mean I will spend the rest of my life imprisoned, surrounded by modern blank walls little more than 20 feet away, with no appeal, parole nor any prospect of release.”

He adds that it isn’t just his life that would be devastated by the development which would impact on Blockley and surrounding villages.

“The site is on the very edge of the conservation area, which covers most of Blockley. Little Shoe Broad is a natural environment of medieval ridge and furrow and the development would destroy the green corridor on the south east side of the Blockley Brook, along with the rural approach to the village and the conservation area."

Blockley Environment Action Group, set up to fight the development, also says the site includes high-risk flood zones and flooded drastically in 2007. They also state that Blockley’s roads are already narrow and overused and the development would increase the risk of accidents.

Steve Hird, managing director of CALA Homes Midlands, said:

“CALA Homes has listened to comments received by Cotswold District Council about our proposed development in Blockley and we are in the process of revising our planning application, which will include the provision of public open space and a reduction in the number of new homes proposed.

“The committee date has been delayed as a result and a new date will be determined once CALA has amended its application in the coming weeks.”