PLANS to build on land behind the historic house built by artist JMW Turner in St Margarets should be rejected outright by Richmond upon Thames Council, neighbours urged this week.

They say the proposal to erect a four storey building on land adjacent to the painter's home, Sandycombe Lodge, on Sandycoombe Road is an architectural eyesore' and totally out of keeping with the area's historical heritage.

Professor Harold Livermore who lives in Turner's house said the property should be protected as it has not just local but national and international importance. "It is one of the greatest assets in the borough of Twickenham," he said. sic This is the third application for the site at 77-79 St Margarets Road. Steve England of St Margarets Road asked: "How many more times are we, the residents, to be subjected to repeat submissions before the council outright rejects this from its books?

"This area of St Margarets is a well-known conservation area, steeped in a rich history of arguably the greatest painter Britain has ever produced. It would be wholly inappropriate bordering on negligent to entertain any such notion that any structure such as the one proposed by the applicant should be sited in a conservation area with direct contact to a listed building."

The plans are to build a commercial property on the ground floor, along with three flats.

Joseph Estorninho, who lives in Turner's House said the design is for a very modern building, it just doesn't fit in'. He added: "It has no regard to the surrounding architecture and why introduce an industrial area when there are other industrial sites within a stone's throw.

"It really would damage the look, ambience and feel of the area."

And he urged the council should draw a line under the matter and say that once and for all they will not allow applications for that piece of land'.