Helicopters at a private residence in Cheshire have been disturbing the local residents (Picture: PP.)
Villagers in a posh Cheshire suburb are becoming fed up with their millionaire neighbour due to his habit of parking noisy helicopters in the middle of his back garden.
William Stobart, son of haulage tycoon Eddie Stobart, rents out a helipad on his sprawling farm estate in Knutsford to a string of wealthy clients.
Ex-premier league star Wayne Rooney has been spotted using the private helipad, as has charter firm GB Helicopters, who provide aerial shots for Netflix drama Fool Me Once and shows such as I’m a Celebrity.
But neighbours have complained about the disruption caused by the constant coming-and-going of endless helicopters, and say the noise has made their lives a ‘living hell’.
According to MailOnline, a local councillor has also claimed Mr Stobart, 62, does not have the required planning permission to use the landing pad as a business.
Alison Gardner and her son Alex Oakshott say the helicopters have made their lives miserable (Picture: PP)
The helipad is belived to be owned by William Stobart, son of trucking tycoon Eddie Stobart (Picture: PA)
Gardener Alex Oakshott, 37, told the publication: ‘They have made my life a misery here.
‘You can hear the helicopters coming from miles off and it’s a right racket when they land.
‘We are very close to the landing pad. It’s awful. It makes me so angry that he’s been allowed to get away with this.’
His mother Alison Gardner, 62, said: ‘It’s made our lives a living hell. The noise is incredible when they take off and land. We’re devastated with all this and so fed up.
‘It has been going on for five or six years – he doesn’t have permission from the council to use his landing pad as a business.
‘But there’s a hangar there and sometimes two helicopters are parked there. We’ve complained but he doesn’t seem to care – it’s outrageous.’
It is thought the helipad is used to ferry the wealthy to horse racing events such as Cheltenham, Royal Ascot and also the Grand National.
Glyn Stockdale says the helicopters feel like they’re invading his privacy (Picture: PP)
A number of Premier League stars who live nearby are also thought to use the service.
Manchester City star Jack Grealish lives in a nearby sprawling mansion, and is thought to have his own private helipad.
England midfielder Jordan Henderson also has a house down the road, as does his former Liverpool teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Retired interior designer Glynn Stockdale, 86, told the Mail: ‘I came to live here as it’s so out of the way and quiet.
‘But peace and quiet has been shattered by these helicopters. They make a hell of a noise when they come into land. It’s almost as if you’re in the cockpit.
‘And they really come close to the houses which is a real risk. You never know what can happen with helicopters.
‘They came so close to our houses. I was in my swimming pool once and the helicopter came right over me.
Ex-Manchester United player is thought to be a frequent flier (Picture: Getty Images)
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‘The passengers all looked down at me. I went to complain to his wife and she said how awful it was but nothing has been done about the helicopters.’
Cllr Anthony Harrison, ward councillor for Chelford on Cheshire East Council said they were currently stuck in a ‘stalemate’ position with Mr Stobart, and it was now up to planning enforcement to take the matter further..
He told the publication: ‘There are quite a few of these planning disputes going on, where enforcement have not been taking swift action and have been slow to react. There are a few issues with this landowner (Stobart)’.
When asked whether there was a feeling that there was ‘one rule for some people and another rule for others’, he replied: ‘I would agree with that.’
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