
"A French business that is planning to build a vast 600m historical theme park in rural Oxfordshire won help for its plans from the previous government despite its founding family's ties to the far right and past praise of Vladimir Putin. Correspondence obtained under freedom of information (FoI) laws showed the Conservative peer Dominic Johnson, a business and trade minister in Rishi Sunak's government, promised to assist Puy du Fou one of France's most popular theme parks in finding a UK site."
"An unnamed UK official later said departmental staff based in France would be available to provide more help, while the company later described the government as having been very supportive of its plans. The company subsequently unveiled proposals to build mock medieval castles, hotels and restaurants on farmland near the M40 in Oxfordshire. The project has proved controversial, partly owing to objections from local people based on concerns about traffic, the demand on local water supplies and the potential environmental impact."
A French business plans a £600m historical theme park on Oxfordshire farmland near the M40, proposing mock medieval castles, hotels and restaurants. Correspondence shows Conservative peer Dominic Johnson, then a business and trade minister, promised to assist Puy du Fou in finding a UK site, and a UK official offered departmental staff in France to provide further help. The company said the government was very supportive and that it passed a government due diligence process. Local opposition cites concerns about traffic, water demand and environmental impact. Some residents expressed misgivings about the De Villiers family's far-right links and past praise of Vladimir Putin.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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