THEFTS of Cotswold stone tiles are blighting the district's farming community.

Cash-strapped farmers and homeowners whose listed buildings are stripped must stump up to replace them under stringent Cotswold District Council planning policy.

A 10ft by 10ft square of Cotswold stone tiles can cost from £2,000 to £5,000.

District and county councillor Raymond Theodoulou has called for planning laws to be more flexible and allow cheaper reconstituted tiles instead.

He said: "These thefts are a terrible thing and affect the farming community in particular, which is very vulnerable.

"Planners could be more sympathetic."

Thefts of genuine Cotswold stone tiles from roofs is a persistent problem in the area, from agricultural and domestic buildings and even churches.

In the last five years there have been 36 incidents reported from 25 sites – thieves often return to target the same properties again.

The problem is so bad some farmers can't afford to continue replacing ripped-off tiles.

Kemble Farms estate manager, David Ball, said: "We've been targeted at least six times and now the insurance company doesn't want to know anymore.

"We've put up alarm systems, including infra-red ones mounted on the roof which trigger an alarm and text a phone.

"We've just felted over the roofs – but then we get criticised by the district council.

"Reconstituted tiles are affordable and not a target."

Cirencester-based NFU Mutual spokesman, John Taylor said thieves target isolated stone barns near roads and often steal the more valuable ridge tiles.

They were also on the look-out for properties being repaired.

Mr Theodoulou (C, Fairford) said: "The idea of listed status is to preserve buildings but no one would see reconstituted tiles on some of these remote buildings, even from the road you don't know the difference."

In a member question to full district council, he asked what planners could do to discourage thefts.

Cabinet member for planning John Birch said thefts were driven demand for recycled stone tiles.

He said replacing natural stone tiles with artificial ones would be contrary to government guidance.

"Artificial tiles have a different appearance to natural ones and weather in a different manner," he said.

"Their use would be detrimental to the special interest of listed buildings which the council has a legal duty to preserve."