I own UK’s ‘Ford Fiesta land’ with 30 iconic motors just off the M5 – council want to knock it down but I can’t let them
THE owner of “Ford Fiesta land” with over 30 of the iconic motors has vowed to not allow the council to demolish the site.
Andrew Smith, 63, has collected, repaired and sold the vehicles for several years – and currently has a huge stockpile of 33 of them at his home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
He has refused the local council’s offer of £850,000 to compulsory purchase the land.
But he says he has been left “extremely stressed” as his property faces being bulldozed to make way for a proposed 4,000 home development.
Andrew moved into the property in Uckington in 2002 and had wanted to move his elderly mother into an annexe.
He has now reluctantly accepted he would have to move if outline planning permission is approved and has put his unique car collection up for sale.
But he said he was going “no-where” until a “sensible” offer was made after turning down an initial £850,000 from Gloucestershire County Council.
His three-bed semi-detached former council home is set to go as part of preparations for a 4,115-home Elms Park development near junction 10 of the M5 motorway.
But Andrew said the money being offered for a “forced relocation” is not enough to move to a similar property in the area.
He said: “It breaks my heart and I’ve broken down several times.
“This is all I’ve ever wanted. I’m sitting tight here until somebody makes me a sensible offer.”
Andrew, who used to work for F1 driving articulated lorries for companies who had contracts with Benetton, Prost Grand Prix and McLaren, still wants to move his 88-year-old mother in with him but fears now that will be unaffordable.
Andrew said most of the other homes had been empty for up to a decade and his was the only privately-owned home in the area.
He said: “I’m not against progress but they need to make me a sensible offer.
“You can see the cars. What’s out there for the equivalent amount of money is just not there.”
Andrew said he’s been told his property was “complicated” as the council couldn’t provide him with the funds for anything similar.
Gloucestershire County Council said negotiations were continuing.
A spokesperson said: “We are currently negotiating with landowners over the purchase of their property where required to facilitate delivery of the M5 Junction 10 scheme.
“In this case the land is required to enable the associated widening of the A4019 Tewkesbury Road.
“GCC has presented an offer to the property owner that accounts for both the valuation of the property in accordance with relevant standards and guidance and also considers relevant compensation which acknowledges the landowner’s situation.
A brief history of the Ford Fiesta
The beloved car was produced for over 47 years, having first arrived in the UK in 1976.
It came to life through Project Bobcat, which aimed to create an affordable and fuel-efficient vehicle for the growing small car market.
The Fiesta quickly became a household name.
It topped Britain’s annual sale charts 16 times, and has been hailed as Britain’s favourite vehicle.
In 1983, the Ford Fiesta Mk2 made its debut, building on the success of its predecessor with improvements in design, engine options, and features.
The Ford Fiesta Mk3 brought a sleeker look, a 5-door hatchback option, fuel-injected engines, and advanced features like ABS.
The Mk4 generation introduced a more aerodynamic design, an updated engine range, including the new Zetec SE engines, and new technology.
The Mk4 Fiesta’s sleeker, more rounded design marked a departure from the previous generation’s angular aesthetics.
The Ford Fiesta Mk5 became the best-selling generation, boasting stylish looks, enhanced safety features, and a facelift in 2005 that introduced the sporty ST variant.
The Ford Fiesta Mk6 embraced globalisation, adopting the ‘One Ford’ approach that aimed to create a unified product line for the global market.
The Ford Fiesta Mk7 marked the final chapter of this iconic car, introducing new Active and Vignale variants, ST and limited Performance Edition models, and continued success in the World Rally Championship before production ended in 2023.
Over 4.8million models were sold in the UK – globally, 22million have been sold.
“These negotiations are confidential, and we cannot comment further on these.
“As well as widening of the A4019 Tewkesbury Road the scheme proposals will see significant improvements to M5 Junction 10 and the creation of a new road linking Junction 10 to West Cheltenham.
“The scheme proposals are necessary to unlock proposed and future housing and employment growth in West and North West Cheltenham.”
Locals have been reacting to Andrew’s ordeal with many expressing sympathy for his situation.
One said: “Councils should not be able to manipulate outcomes, destroy people life’s and steal land so developers can make obscene profits.
“In any other situation this would be classed as organised crime. Give the fella what he wants or leave him alone.”
Another said: “The council will win as they have compulsory purchase law on their side.
“They are not looking at his needs they are looking at an extra 4,500 homes with council tax rolling in as a result.
“The way that compulsory purchase is used is wrong.”
Another added: “I say don’t give in and don’t move.
“They will have to build around him.
“Why should someone have to move because the council or housing developers say so.”