Tuesday May 21st, 2002

Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher will continue to live in western Switzerland after environmentalists blocked his plans for a luxury family home in the German-speaking east.

The Ferrari driver said in a statement released by his lawyer on Tuesday that he and his wife Corinna regretted the plans had not worked out.

The "whole environment absolutely matched our ideal. But the legal process would have taken too long. For that reason, we have decided to halt the project and we will stay where we are," Schumacher said.

The family wanted to move to Wolfhalden in the eastern part of Switzerland to give their children a German-language education. The area where they live now is French-speaking. A statement released by the mayor of Wolfhalden on Tuesday also expressed regret.

"The community leaders of Wolfhalden can't hide their disappointment," Mayor Mario Pighi said, adding that he found it hard to understand "the questionable position of a few advocates from environmental associations".

Schumacher's plans called for a complex with horse stables, a fitness club and swimming pool on a wooded hilltop.

Published at 17:40:06 GMT

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