RESIDENTS living in a village where Pride and Prejudice was filmed say it’s now been taken over by holiday homes.
The Peak District spot is still as picturesque as it was when the village was used as a set nearly 30 years ago.
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But locals living in the North Staffordshire village of Longnor say a lot has changed in that time.
Some say they used to know almost every person that lived in every house – now properties sit empty as they’re used as holiday homes.
In 1995 the village became the fictitious town of Lambton for the BBC‘s adaptation of the Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice, which Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle starred in.
Arthur Armitt lived in Longnor when the filming was underway – he’s called the village home his whole life.
But he said in that time holiday homes had been what altered the area.
Arthur told StokeonTrentLive: “It’s the same as it has always been. However, it has changed in one aspect.
“There are a lot more holiday cottages. At one time in the past, I knew everyone in every house. Now it’s like I don’t know anyone.”
He said the holiday homes were causing issues for first-home buyers, adding: “I am sorry about it in one aspect I guess. Young people in the village cannot buy any properties and to be honest, I can’t see it getting any better.”
Rachel Kempster, who has lived in the village for 20 years, said there was still a good community in Longnor.
She said: “It is very nice on the whole. There is a good community spirit.”
Rachel said that she owned a “small holiday let” in the village and while she saw similar issues to Arthur, she did think the town benefitted from tourism.
Rachel said: “There is the capacity for holiday homes in the village, holiday homes do bring in money and business.
“The issue is people who have second homes in the village. People don’t use them.
“But sadly I think that is the case with most villages like Longnor in the Peak District.”
Steven Hitchen, who is the subpostmaster at the Post Office, has called Longnor home for 15 years and said he loves how it is “very peaceful”.
Steven added: “It is becoming more holiday lets. It can be good in some ways but not in others.”
Longnor is not the first town to run into issues with holiday homes.
Locals at one seaside resort said the rental homes were even leaving locals homeless – and their streets like a ghost town.
Another town said second homeowners were ruining their town, and they were forced to take desperate measures.
Residents in another village even said property prices were skyrocketing as a result of greedy second homeowners.
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