RESIDENTS of a Cotswold hamlet are hopeful that a battle to protect their surroundings may be over after three years of fighting to block the development of a large country house.

People living in and around Bagpath welcomed the news than an appeal against the latest rejection of an application to build Brimpscombe Park has been withdrawn.

Cotswold District planners rejected a third application for the building in the Ozleworth Valley, three kilometres south of Kingscote, earlier this month.

Last Tuesday developer David Cardale withdrew his appeal, which was due to be heard in January.

The appeal had been lodged after planners refused permission for the first application in November, 2002. There have been two further applications, both of which have also been refused.

A spokesman for campaign group Cotswolds Against Country House Expansion said objectors are hopeful, but will not become complacent.

"But it does look as if we were right when we judged that the appeal was lodged to put pressure on the planners to approve the later applications," added Mike Challis. "The suggestion that the council could save ratepayers money by approving the second application and avoid and expensive six day public inquiry was made by the developers' supporters at the second planning meeting."

The group has been fighting what it calls the "threat posed to the tranquillity and beauty of the valley" for around three years.

Mr Challis added: "There will undoubtedly be a few more celebrations but we will continue to keep a watchful eye on the place."

The building was proposed under a controversial planning clause introduced in 1997 by Conservative Minister John Gummer, which allows construction of architecturally exceptional large houses in open countryside, regardless of policies, decided locally.

The consultation period for the replacement of the clause has now started and a draft of the new clause has no provision for a country house exception.

The campaigners plan to make a contribution to the consultation.

A spokesman for Cotswold District Council's planning department confirmed the appeal had been withdrawn on October 21 but stated that no reason had been given.

Mr Cardale could not be contacted for comment.