February 9, 2001 9:49: A SOLICITOR has denied national newspaper reports that he is charging residents £15,000 to get to their own houses.

David Baldwin has inherited his father's title of the Lord of the Manor of Chalfont St Peter and as such has the legal right to charge people who have to go over common land to get to their houses.

The roads affected would be Austenwood Common, Goldhill in Chalfont St Peter and West Common, Gerrards Cross.

National papers have claimed he is charging people £15,000 per property.

But Mr Baldwin, who lives in Bourne End, said: "I have no intention of charging residents £15,000 to use their own driveways. So they are not to worry.

"Most of what was in the papers was exaggerated and made up. I charged developers for new access ways or driveways if someone is buying it to build new houses or new driveways.

"My dad bought the title in 1962 for £100, which was the going rate at the time. It is pure luck."

He said he would not comment on how much money he has made.

Beaconsfield MP Dominic Grieve is one of a number of MPs tabling an amendment to the Countryside Bill, which would give the Government the power to reduce the amount lords can charge people using common land.

He said: "I think it's very unneighbourly to demand large sums of money from people for something they and their ancestors have been doing freely for years. I think it's wrong, full stop.

"But legally he has the right to do it there's no question about that."