Campaign against Brockworth houses given hope as plans are deferred
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 81 homes in Brockworth have been deferred because of fears they could cause flooding, traffic and schooling problems.
Tewkesbury's Borough Council's planning committee has decided to put David Wilson Homes' application for Kennel Lane on hold.
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John Shellswell is concenred about the effect of a new development at Kennel Lane in Brockworth
Councillors will now visit the site at a later date before making their decision.
It gives the residents fighting the plans some hope that the development will be rejected.
The committee heard there had been 196 letters of objection and that the parish council and Tewkesbury MP Laurence Robertson were against the proposal.
In 1992, the council rejected plans to build 23 bungalows and garages on the land but it has since earmarked it for 60 homes in its Local Plan.
Planning officer Joan Desmond said the current plans were for 81 homes but that the developer was also looking to build 10 homes on an adjoining piece of land in the future.
She said officers recommended approval after overcoming some issues of concern, such as the height of the homes.
The developer originally wanted to make them 10 or 11m high but had agreed to reduce that to just over 8m.
She added she was aware residents wanted trees on the site to be saved but the council's landscape officer did not consider them to be worth preserving.
Coun Mike Collins (Lib Dem, Brockworth) organised a meeting on the issue in December.
He told the committee meeting that flooding was already a problem in nearby streets.
He said: "Who is to say this won't add to that problem? I believe it possibly will."
He said he feared the development would cause traffic problems in the area.
Coun Collins told the meeting the developer claimed children from the new homes could go to Castle Hill Primary School but its headteacher had told him this would not be possible.
Members hope to meet representatives from agencies such as the county council on the site visit to discuss the fears.
Coun Ken Leech (C, Cleeve Hill) said councillors had previously visited the site and seen the flooding issue for themselves.
He said: "The water was running off the fields like Niagara Falls."
After the meeting, parish councillor and Abbotswood Estate resident John Shellswell said: "Obviously, we have made our views very clear and the site visit will hopefully help re-iterate that the development is not practical, not feasible and not wanted."
6 Comments
by me, Brockworth
Wednesday, June 24 2009, 12:36PM
“Brockworth Resident - i totally agree Boverton Drive is used as a rat run, only a couple of weeks ago there was an accident outside my place.
Helen - kids not a problem I beg to differ, nearly every night they are wandering about shouting and bawling, and the rubbish they leave behind is disgusting, yes they do have somewhere to go so why not use it !!
Anyway - why dont the developers propose a youth centre on that side of the road as well as over here”
by Barry Jackson, Brockworth
Wednesday, June 24 2009, 12:35PM
“On the face of it this seems to be a good decision, however I agree with Matt.
I fear that these greedy developers will re-submit their application and win, money talks!”
by Helen, Brockworth
Wednesday, June 24 2009, 11:58AM
“Kids have plenty of places to go in Brockworth, the great Youth Club, wiv the fottie outside, two decent parks, A sports centre with Swimming pool, so thats rubbish!!! B'worth resident!
And they dont really hang around on street corners, thats rubbish too, yeah you get the lads outside the bookies, but they aint Kids, and they aint no trouble either!”
by Brockworth resident, Brockworth
Wednesday, June 24 2009, 8:48AM
“There are enough homes in Brockworth already without building yet more. The traffic is getting worse with Boverton Drive being used as a rat run. There are no facilities for the kids to go to in the evenoing so they hang around the street corners, shops and roundabouts as they have nowhere to go. The schools cannot accomodate anymore children and the parking problems at school times are already bad enough as it is as parents just have to take their little darlings to school in the car as it is a 10 min walk. No more building in Brockworth. Leave our green spaces alone.”
by Matt, Cheltenham
Wednesday, June 24 2009, 8:21AM
“But how many times do we see the following scenario: The local Planning Authority refuses the application, so the developer lodges an appeal, which they win, making a mockery of the planning process, and costing the LPA tens of thousands of pounds in fees.
We've not heard the end of this development by a long way...”
by Me, Brockworth
Wednesday, June 24 2009, 7:56AM
“It's no good just sending 'letters of objection' when there is a council meeting residents HAVE to turn up to put across their objection otherwise it will be ignored”