Armed police officers conducted a major operation on one of Britain's most picturesque streets on Monday morning, following reports that a gunman had opened fire on a construction site at the heart of a long-running planning dispute.
Police Swarm Picturesque Village After Early Morning Alert
The dramatic scene unfolded in the idyllic Cotswolds village of Bibury, famed for its photogenic Arlington Row. Gloucestershire Constabulary dispatched armed response units, drone teams, and sniffer dogs to Awkward Hill just after 8.15am. The emergency response was triggered after contractors, who had just begun work, claimed the window of their excavator was shattered by what they believed was a rifle shot.
According to police, the workmen were left shaken by the incident, which occurred within the grounds of a private property. Residents living in the iconic 17th-century weavers' cottages on Arlington Row were instructed to stay indoors as a precaution. One couple attempting to leave their home were reportedly told by officers: 'No, you can't go yet, you've got to go back inside because we are worried about a gunman being on the loose.'
Investigation Shifts Focus to Criminal Damage
Despite the initial alarm, the police investigation has yet to confirm that a shooting took place. A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Constabulary stated that while damage to the excavator's window frame was found, no projectile has been recovered and no witnesses have confirmed hearing gunshots.
Detectives are currently treating the event as an act of criminal damage. A thorough forensic examination of the scene is underway, alongside a review of CCTV footage and house-to-house enquiries. The spokesperson confirmed the armed deployment was based on the initial report received, supported by specialist units.
Incident Fuels Existing Tensions Over Contentious Development
This alarming event has poured fuel on an already fiery local planning row. The development on Awkward Hill relates to renovations at a Grade II-listed property bought for £1.1 million in 2022 by a wealthy Turkish couple, Metin and Gulbin Dener. Construction work, ongoing since 2023, has reportedly caused significant disruption to the village, with complaints about noise, road blockages, and verge erosion.
Villagers have described the protracted works as making their lives an 'absolute nightmare', with some even considering selling their homes, which average around £1.5 million. Conversely, a source close to the development claimed contractors have faced a large amount of verbal abuse since the project began.
The incident has drawn a stark divide in the community. One appalled resident commented: 'It's one thing to put in a planning objection but it's another thing altogether to do something as dangerous and as nasty as this.' Police are continuing their investigations and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
