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Press Releases

SVAG Press Release 18 May 2007 (pdf 30Kb)
Who Owns Constable Country?
Professor Michael Rosenthal of Warwick University delivered a hard-hitting lecture in aid of the Stour Valley Action Group.

SVAG Press Release 4 May 2007 (pdf 30Kb)
Campaigners to visit Horkesley Park Exhibition
SVAG would like to invite members of the press to join them when they view Bunting and Sons’ promotional exhibition for the projected ‘Horkesley Park Heritage and Conservation Centre’ at Colchester Town Hall on 10th May.

SVAG Press Release 6 April 2007 (pdf 23Kb)
Annnouncement of Bunting’s Relaunch.
Saviours or exploiters? Is the Suffolk Punch to be a gimmick of the new campaign?

SVAG Press Release 25 February 2007 (pdf 133Kb)
A Sneak Preview of Horkesley Park.
Could this be the real future of Horkesley Park: Suffolk Punches as the centrepiece of an urban retail complex?

SVAG Press Release 6 April 2006 (pdf 23Kb)
Annnouncement of Bunting's withdrawal.
Summary of successful SVAG campaign.

Press Coverage Highlights

Essex County Standard 3 August 2007 (pdf 159Kb)
The only news is no news.
Bunting's application would appear to be delayed until the autumn.

East Anglian Daily Times 25 June 2007 (pdf 264Kb)
'Support' claims for rural centre attacked
As protestors hit back at claims of support for the heritage centre Bernard Jenkin, MP for North Essex, said he regarded this development was too controvesial to be resolved locally and can only be settled by a public inquiry.

Essex County Standard 22 June 2007. (pdf 217Kb)
'90 per cent support plan, say Bunting's
Bunting
s continue with their claim that the majority of visitors to their events supported the proposed scheme. However the Chairman of SVAG believes these figures are pretty misleading.

Suffolk Free Press 21 June 2007. (pdf 220Kb)
'Buntings: We have backing for Stour plan'
Following a 'public consultation' to gauge reaction of the public, Buntings announce that the majority of visitors were either supportive or voiced no objection to their proposals.

Suffolk Free Press 24 May 2007. (pdf 368Kb)
'Art historian gives heritage site warning'
At his lecture on 'Who owns Constable's Country?' Professor Michael Rosenthal of Warwick University said of the proposed Horkesley Park, "Having studied the plans, I think the centre has got the potential to create a lot of environmental damage".

Suffolk Free Press 17 May 2007. (pdf 470Kb)
‘Protesters step up Stour centre fight’
SVAG backed up by Nayland with Wissington Conservation Society urge objectors to 'Say No to Horkesley Park' when a new application is submitted.

East Anglian Daily Times 11 May 2007. (pdf 294Kb)
‘Heritage centre plan under fire in protest’
Making a point: Protesters say everything that Buntings are proposing already exists in the area - amazing garden centres, marvellous old pubs, and Suffolk Punches still being used at Stoke by Nayland.

East Anglian Daily Times 12 April 2007. (pdf 288Kb)
‘Art historian attacks plans’
Michael Rosenthal is to give a lecture highlighting the changing demands on the region's landscape, backing the campaigns of SVAG and the Nayland with Wissington Conservation Society.

East Anglian Daily Times 9 April 2007. (pdf 311Kb)
‘Concerns over tourist scheme’
Retail elements under attack. Will Pavry, SVAG chairman, expresses concerns that the proposed application will not be significantly different to previous applications.

East Anglian Daily Times 2 April 2007. (pdf 428Kb)
‘New plans for major heritage attraction’
In their fourth attempt at gaining planning Buntings announce a consultation process. A £15,000 3D model is to form part of an exhibition ahead of new plans for a controversial countryside tourist attraction.

Country Life 6 April 2006 (pdf 344Kb)
'Constable Controversy'
Country Life
‘ Constable country retains its beauty and tranquillity thanks to sustained earlier battles fought notably by the archit
ect Raymond Erith, the Dedham Vale Society and the National Trust. The Stour Valley Action Group is fighting for an equally worthy cause.’

Evening Gazette 4 April 2006. (pdf 189Kb)
‘Heritage Scheme Withdrawn’
Controversial plans for a Constable heritage centre have been withdrawn while improvements are made to the scheme.

Essex County Standard 3 March 2006 (pdf 94Kb)
‘ New row over Constable Centre’
Suggestions of financial links between backers of a controversial John Constable heritage centre and a far eastern constrution company which has expressed support for the project have been dismissed as ‘completely untrue’.

The Mail On Sunday 26 February 2006 (pdf 555Kb )
‘ Chinese Invade Constable Country’

‘ Peking backs plan for £20m theme park that locals fear will ruin Hay Wain landscape for ever.’

Private Eye 17 February 2006 (pdf 109Kb)
‘ Sweet and Stour’

‘ Anger in Essex over plans for the Horkesley park “heritage centre” – a 100,000 sq ft garden centre with 1,125-seat café in Constable country.’ The oddity of a classical Chinese garden in this ‘celebration’ of Englishness.

The Guardian TRAVEL 11 February 2006 (pdf 22Kb)
Architecture correspondent Jonathan Glancey considers the implications of Horkesley Park in his listing of the travesties and wonders of the world’s tourist landscapes.

The Guardian 4 February 2006 (pdf 469Kb)
‘ Theme Park proposal makes waves in Constable Country’

Plans for a £20m tourist attraction in the valley that inspired John Constable have provoked accusations that a quiet slice of the English countryside is about to fall victim to theme-park tourism.

The Daily Telegraph 4 February 2006 (pdf 623Kb)
‘ Storm gathers over Constable ‘Theme Park’

Villagers fear tourists will destroy rural tranquillity

Evening Gazette 2 February 2006 (pdf 151Kb)
‘ Business petition against country park’
A group of small businesses have banded together to sign an open letter against the proposed Horkesley Park development.

The Mail on Sunday Property on Sunday 29 January 2006 (pdf 858Kb)
‘ Why this Constable theme park may destroy the very countryside he loved’
Danae Brook offers a personal view on plans for a ‘conservation’ centre in the stunning valley that inspired The Hay Wain.

Financial Times 28 January 2006 (pdf 544Kb )
‘ Constable Country’s brush with controversy’

Plans for a £20m ‘theme park’ development celebrating the painter’s life and times face vehement opposition.

Essex County Standard 6 January 2006 (408pdf )
Viewpoint. ‘This is why we don’t need heritage scheme'
Will Pavry, SVAG chairman, puts the case against the Horkesley Park development.

Essex County Standard 30 December 2005 (pdf 306Kb)
Viewpoint. ‘Why we need a Horkesley heritage centre’
Stephen Bunting of Bunting and Sons puts forward his case for the Horkesley Park Heritage Park and Conservation Centre.

Essex County Standard 16 December 2005 (pdf 358Kb)
‘Traffic fears over heritage park plan’
and ‘Save us from ‘theme park’.
Great Horkesley parish council opposes park plan, and farmers are calling for the Essex countryside to be saved from the threat of a ‘theme park’.