Film unit barred from common by parish council

PARISH councillors have refused to give permission for television stars Meera Syal and Stephen Tompkinson to park on their village common.

The two celebrities will be in Gerrards Cross on Monday to film a new BBC drama, In Deep, but the council decided the film unit vehicles could damage the land on West Common.

Parish council chairman Jenny Woolveridge said: 'I do not know the size of the lorries involved, but they could be big.

'I fear if the common is wet they could cause harm to the grass. There is enough parking space for them at The Bull Hotel.'

She added: 'We are custodians of the common. This film will be in the dustbin one day. If it was the film to break all box-office records we would not change our opinion.'

Meera Syal is best known for writing and starring in the hit BBC comedy series Goodness Gracious Me. She is also a respected author, having written two critically acclaimed novels, Anita and Me and Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee.

Stephen Tompkinson has starred alongside chart-topper Robson Green in the television drama Grafters and as a priest in the BBC drama series Ballykissangel.

People living near the site were unaware of the impending filming.

Elizabeth Lowe, of West Common, said: 'I'm not interested in watching the filming.

'But I'm sure it would not make much difference if they did park on the common.'

A BBC spokesman said: 'We always liaise very closely with local authorities and the police on these matters.'