1,300 homes plan for Leckhampton and Shurdington under fire
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 1,300 new homes in Cheltenham were met with objection when they went on public display for the first time.
Hundreds of people turned out to see the proposals for the houses in Leckhampton and Shurdington at the exhibitions over the weekend.
The plans include building the new homes along with a new primary school, open space the size of 16 football pitches, a GP surgery, and shops and allotments.
The consortium of developers is also asking for opinions on ideas such as a new care home or community hospital.
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Objections against the major development have already been voiced by the community and campaigners believe information from the exhibitions reinforces their views.
Anthony Heckstall-Smith and his wife Jeannie, who live near the site, were both against it.
Mr Heckstall-Smith said: "I don't want anything built on the site and nothing in the world is going to convince me about this.
"The infrastructure and roads will all be overloaded and it is dreadful already.
"To me , this is a cynical attempt to dump a large village on the edge of Cheltenham – just like Springbank and Hester's Way."
Mrs Heckstall-Smith added: "I can understand some housing being built there, but I don't want anything like the amount they are suggesting. Something needs to be done, but I would like to see a town farm there." The proposal could also see the land west of Farm Lane opened up to create a new community orchard. Other ideas include sports pitches at Lott's Meadow.
Steve Carey, for the developers, said there had been a good response to the exhibition.
He said: "The majority of people are against the principle of development, but we are looking for people to give us feedback on the proposals. The principle of development in the area is something for the local authority to decide and the consortium is responding to the need for housing."
Pressure group Leckhampton Green Land Action Group (Leglag) did an exit poll of visitors to the Brizen Centre exhibition on Saturday and found 330 people strongly opposed the plans, while just three were in support of it and nine were neutral.
Gerry Potter, from Leglag, said an overwhelming majority of people who came along to the exhibition did not want the proposed development to come to fruition.
He said: "Most objections are to the scale of the proposed development and because of the very high density of the proposed dwellings, which could be out of character with the existing housing."
Councillors Roger Whyborn and Ian Bickerton have opposed the plans, concerned by the traffic problems the extra homes could create.
Another public exhibition will take place on Saturday, October 6 from 11am to 7pm at Leckhampton Primary School.
Comments
by TheNub
Monday, September 24 2012, 9:38PM
“LECKHAMPTON GREEN LAND ACTION GROUP leglag were quick off the mark with there exit poll .they should be called fast action response team = FART .”
by Hubert1841
Monday, September 24 2012, 5:23PM
“They should rebuild Sochi Court, Pakistan and India Houses on the site, preferably right next door to Mr. Heckstall-Smith's property, just to watch him pop a vein in an apoplectic knee-jerk rage, when the building starts.”
by rogerjc1959
Monday, September 24 2012, 4:42PM
“the more houses the merrier if that is not for you then move mr heckstall nimby smith . p s nice picture of the adams family”
by joholly
Monday, September 24 2012, 4:06PM
“The previous commentary fails to accept the principle of free speech (not Nimby'ism) and shows a clear lack of understanding of the impact a further 2600 cars will have on the roads into/out of this estate at peak times. Let alone the impact of hundreds of additional secondary school places that will be required for the offspring of the new home owners.
The area already has allotments (with no great queue to join), enjoys land for many more football pitches (if the council chose to invest tax payer funds this way), does not need another doctors surgery/health centre (as the existing surgeries are not exactly queued out the door).
The plan is an fine example of overdevelopment lacking the investment in infrastructure required outside the plan area, with no provision for a fully funded secondary school.
If the area is crying out for new homes where is the evidence to support such claims. It might well be that the three counties see a need for new homes- so build these near the M5 on Greenbelt as this is the most cost effective solution.”
by Flat-Broke Films Ltd
Monday, September 24 2012, 12:55PM
“It looks like the NIMBY's attended these consultation housing proposals exhibitions. As long as the new scheme provides a new school & shopping facilities plus deals with the additional traffic movements in a sensible way, I can't see what all the fuss is about. Surely extending Up Hatherley Way across the fields linking into Church Road would save traffic from shortcutting along Kidnapper's Lane and Farm Lane. The area is crying out for new houses to be built.”