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.

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."