Trust gets developer donation after road closure

Poltimore House, which is undergoing restoration work, received a donation from a housing developer

The trust that manages a historic manor house in Devon has welcomed a donation from a developer after a road closure led to a loss of income.

Drainage work at Redrow's Saxon Brook development in Poltimore, near Exeter, meant the main road to the area off the B3181 was closed.

Branches Cafe at the house complained there were fewer customers during the road closure and events at the house and other businesses were also affected, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

David Wilson, from Redrow South West, said it had made a £500 donation to the trust, with a further £1,500 to follow early next year, and it also had offered a staff volunteering day and digger support for current projects.

Peter Totterdill, chairman of the Poltimore House Trust, said: "As a charity, the trust relies heavily on income from visitors to our cafe and events programme, enabling us to maintain the grounds for the community and to work towards a sustainable future for this historic house.

"As a result of the long diversion resulting from the road closure, we did experience a noticeable reduction in visitor numbers and cafe income.

"We were also saddened to have to cancel Miracle Theatre's performance of Midsummer Night's Dream in our grounds, a loss to us and to this wonderful theatre company."

The trust said in June 2024 it still needed £15m for repairs to the house after it was hit by fire.