Poet's Gloucestershire home faces compulsory purchase order

The Gloucestershire home of Welsh poet WH Davies could again face a compulsory purchase order if it is not repaired.

The author of the poem Leisure lived in Glendower, an 18th Century cottage in Nailsworth up until his death in 1940.

Owner and Davies' great-nephew, Norman Phillips, 78, is facing a five-figure sum for repairs and has been unable to live in the property for eight years.

Stroud District Council says it may again step in and take possession if repair work is not carried out.

William Henry Davies, author of the celebrated line 'What is this life if, full of care', moved to Nailsworth in 1928 and lived at Glendower for the final years of his life.

Mr Phillips lived in the Grade II listed property for nearly 60 years, but moved out in 2003 after suffering a heart attack.

Since then, according to Phillip Skill the head of planning for the area, the "building has slowly fallen into disrepair".

"The gentleman concerned is in council accommodation because the building is unfit for habitation so we now have an empty property which we need to deal with," he said.

In September 2010 the council threatened to step in and take possession if essential repairs were not carried out but Mr Phillips successfully applied for planning permission to do the work.

"Unfortunately since we gave planning permission in December 2010 - very little work has actually been carried out - and not enough to arrest the decline of the building.

"Compulsory purchase is not a quick or simple process so we hope by working with the owner we can get the building renovated without going down this route."

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