HOMEOWNERS have hit back at a high-flying lawyer who wants to build a helipad in the garden of his £1.3million mansion.
Furious neighbours say they don’t want their “peace ended” by “flash” Mayus Karia whose helipad could allow billionaire clients to land at his country home.
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Mr Karia won permission for the helipad in the back garden of his six-bedroom luxury home in Durley, Hampshire.
Winchester City Council restricted him to just two personal-use round-trips per month between 8am and 6pm.
Yet he has now applied for “unrestricted” use – to the outrage of residents living nearby.
They accuse the dad-of-three of thinking he now “owns Durley”, having moved two years ago to the village seven miles north-east of Southampton which has an international airport.
The website for his law firm London Litigation Partnership Solicitors reveals hourly rates of £1,200 for potential clients.
It describes Mr Karia as “a ferocious and meticulous litigator”, likening him to “the genius of Field Marshal Montgomery in the battlefield”.
He has previously built a basketball court at his Durley mansion which also features a 30ft pool house.
Neighbours in the 1,000-population village now fear regular helicopter trips in and out could “spooK” pets as well as livestock in nearby fields – while also ruining their own “peace”.
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Geoff Travers, 78, who lives opposite Mr Karia, said he and his wife were opposed to the plans – having moved there themselves in 1996 for a ‘peaceful retirement’.
He said: “We had a nice secluded plot of land.
“I’m not opposed to a helicopter now and again – we can accept that.
“But it’s changed from personal and now sounds like it’s to fly his clients in. Who knows, it could be three, four or six times a week?
“I don’t think it’s fitting with where we are – it’s not really for Durley.”
His wife Shirley, 75, said: “It’s just ludicrous when an airport is a stone’s throw away – it’s unbelievable.
“The family are friendly when we see them but we’ve got to stick up for ourselves, we don’t want our peace ended.
“We’re quite a quiet little community, we all get on.”
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It’s taking the mick and not acceptable.
“They haven’t been here two years and they think they own Durley.
“If we weren’t near an airport, then fair enough – but we are.”
Another nearby homeowner, who also wanted to remain anonymous, said: “I disapprove of it – helicopters are just so loud.
“I would have no issue with it once in a while, from 8am to 6pm I don’t mind – but if you take away that contingency, you’ve got no control about timing of trips.
“It’s also about safety, taking off and landing accidents happen – helicopters are not the safest thing.
“It will cause such distress to the animals – imagine the sheep during lambing season and other livestock.”
It’s a detriment to the area
Villager Dave Humphries
Sam Bower, 34, was also concerned about the impact the noise could have on her work as a singer-songwriter in her studio.
She said: “We moved here a year ago because it was quiet, so it would be nice if it wasn’t noisy.”
And Durley-born Dave Humphries, 49, said: “It’s a rural area, there’s cattle and horses that are going to be spooked by a helicopter – it’s not the ideal place.
“It’s a detriment to the area and it’s not something you expect in Durley.”
Finance worker Deborah Stevenson, who has lived in the area for 20 years, said: “It’s nice if people can do what they want – he paid for his house.
“But if it’s going to screw everyone else up with a helicopter taxi service that’s a bit selfish, isn’t it?”
Durley Parish Council has lodged an objection to Mr Karia’s application, saying: “We would not want to disturb residents’ tranquility by allowing additional noise 24 hours a day.
“We do have small airfields in Durley and Upham and these should be utilised if additional facilities are needed.”
Yet other residents are unconcerned by Mr Karia’s proposal.
Lorna Cathie, 60, said: “I don’t have any issues with it.
“It doesn’t bother me as long as it’s not the middle of the night – that’s the only thing I would be worried about. I think it’s quite fun.”
And Bob Stevens, who has been living and farming on nearby land for almost 40 years, said his cattle were already well-accustomed to modern-day air traffic.
The 78-year-old said: “There are enough helicopters going over here already – they take no notice of it.
“The proximity doesn’t worry me – I’m not against it at all.”
Mr Karia’s planning agent, architectural designer Malcolm Harvey, has insisted use of the helipad would not disturb villagers.
He said: “Mr Karia does not own a helicopter and it would not be based here, but we want unrestricted use because we have to be flexible for clients who want to fly in.
“He has two billionaire clients from the USA and they want to come over and be able to land here – we want the freedom for them to fly in when they need to.
“We are on the edge of the village and the flight path would not be over the village itself.
“It is not selfish – there are lots of people who have helicopters in the Winchester area and who fly almost every day.”
A decision has not yet been made by Winchester City Council.
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