World Listens
48 minutes ago Alistair Binney, in Symonds Yat East and Elliot Ball, West Midlands BBC Multiple businesses in Symonds Yat East, one of the filming locations for Netflix's Sex Education, have been put up for sale People living near a popular beauty spot made famous by Netflix's Sex Education have spoken of their fears its "magic" could be lost after much of it was put up for sale. A wedding venue, pub, holiday accommodation and multiple car parks at Symonds Yat East, Herefordshire, have gone on the market for £6.75m. The BBC has approached the current owner via estate agent Christie & Co.
The sale includes the Royal Lodge Hotel, Wye Rapids House, the Weir House and the Saracens Head Inn, as well as two pay-and-display car parks and a section of riverbank. Together, the businesses and properties cover 6.74 acres (2.73 hectares) along the River Wye, which the current owners have had for 35 years. More stories in Hereford & Worcester Village resident John Davies said the sale had come as a "very great surprise".
"It's like if you said to people in London that Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column was up for sale," he said. "It would be a great pity if in the development the magic was lost," he added. "But if the magic can be enhanced and if the whole experience can be enriched then that would be fabulous.
But change is not easy when it's as lovely as this." Estate agents have highlighted potential for further development at the site, including creating a riverside spa hotel, eco lodges, glamping pods and camping, as well as opening up an old railway tunnel for walkers and cyclists. Davies said the sale had come as a "very great surprise" But some people living nearby said they were concerned about what greater development could mean for the area. One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "I think it's good value for money but it's what they're going to do with it.
"If they do something with it I hope they don't develop it a bit too much." Walter Dirks / Knight Frank A property near the beauty spot was used as the fictional home of Gillian Anderson's character in the Netflix show Sex Education They also raised concerns the proposals could bring significantly more people to the area. "I think it would ruin it. It would totally ruin it.
It's a big canoeing centre, a water sports centre, and the area behind is used by scouts and everyone else," he said. "Even the Olympic teams use it from time to time. "By having all the extra spas it will create too many people down here.
At the moment parking is limited and that's a good idea. "If you open it up to too many cars it'll just ruin it, like it ruins most beauty spots." One anonymous resident said overdevelopment would "ruin" the area Others said they hoped a new owner would preserve what attracts people to Symonds Yat. One visitor said: "I think it's good if they're going to keep it as it is but if they're going to change it then that'll be a shame to destroy all this beauty." Another, who visits the area regularly, said: "We always come up here once a year, twice a year, and it's nice to see it [...] it's the scenic views, the peacefulness - it's just awesome." More stories like this Related internet links
Source: BBC
