Millionaire author who complained neighbour’s spiritual Cotswolds retreat was too NOISY wins bitter legal battle after judge orders holistic centre to close
The site sparked controversy from villagers who claim the venue held loud drunken parties and even the occasional 'rave'
A MILLIONAIRE author has won a bitter battle against his neighbours after they were ordered to close their spiritual retreat in the Cotswolds - because it was too NOISY.
Terry Maher complained his life was blighted by the din coming from a holistic centre run by former friends Andy and Sally Birtwell.
Andy, 70, and Sally, 66, opened the Holycombe Holistic Retreat Centre, which includes a stone circle and space for 30 tents, new-age yurts and teepees, in 2003.
The retreat, on the edge of the idyllic village of Whichford, Warks., has since played host to visitors including yoga teachers, pilates instructors, belly dancers and singers.
But it sparked controversy from villagers who claim the Birtwells use their venue to hold loud drunken parties and even the occasional "rave".
Best-selling author Mr Maher, former head of book chain Dillons, complained his life is blighted by the noise coming from the holistic centre.
The 76-year-old threatened legal action after the Birtwells were granted planning permission for the campsite in 2013.
But the permission was later withdrawn by Stratford District Council due to minor errors.
Today it emerged the retreat has been ordered to close after the authority served an enforcement notice on the site.
A spokesman for Stratford District Council said: "An Enforcement Notice was issued last week on this site and the District Council are in discussion with the owner.
"No other comment will be made at this time, as this is a live case."
Mr Maher, whose £1 million home, called 'The Old House', is 400 yards from the retreat, previously claimed the noisy campsite didn't fit in the "atmosphere" of the village.
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The author, who wrote bestselling memoir "Against My Better Judgement" and novel "Unfinished Business", said: "I have been friends with Andy and Sally for many, many years and I even persuaded him to buy the land.
"Everything was fine, and we had no opposition to the holistic centre but the campsite is causing noise which is very intrusive to us.
"If we sit on our terrace, and with a prevailing wind, we can hear conversations from the campsite quite clearly as well as children playing.
"It does not fit with the atmosphere of a quiet village in the Cotswolds."
His wife Barbara, 73, added: "The Birtwells were good friends of ours and we are sad that it's come to this.
"It's been a spoiler in the village, there's no friendship anymore."
The Birtwells submitted an application for retrospective planning permission to Stratford District Council but it was turned down.
Their six-acre campsite, which is situated where a former Norman Castle once stood, have vowed to appeal the decision.
Today Mr Birtwell said they were still hopeful of being able to run the centre in some capacity in the future.
He said: "We have had mediation with the (objecting) neighbours and they have come up with a constructive plan which we are all in agreement with.
"It depends on a restrictive covenant on the future of the campsite, based on our own existing strict rules for how we run it.
"The agreement will only be valid when Stratford District Council grant planning permission.
"This is a marvellous opportunity to put things right and begin to heal the village. We are very positive about the outcome.
"We want to thank the mediator and our neighbours for making this compromise and for coming to an amicable agreement.
"Whatever has happened in the past, we want to put behind us and to move forward in friendship and understanding if possible."
The Birtwells bought the land, which was used as a dump for 1,600 scrap cars, for £117,000 in a sealed bid auction in 1997 after the previous owner died.
They spent six years restoring the house and building a holistic retreat which soon became a draw for couples and groups interested in meditation.
On their website, they boast how a natural stream from a holy well washes through the ground down a waterfall "which adds to the sense of peace and tranquillity".
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