3:50pm Friday 4th July 2008
By Victoria Ashford
HUNDREDS of concerned residents united in protest on Tuesday against plans to build nearly 200 homes on the site of a golf course in Bradford on Avon.
People filled St Margaret's Hall, far exceeding the 200 chairs provided, to argue their view against the application for 194 new homes, of which 40 per cent would be affordable housing, on the West Wilts golf course, in Avon Close.
An extraordinary meeting of Bradford Town Council was called to discuss outline planning permission for the homes, but councillors said they would only debate part of the application regarding the entrance and access to the site.
Rene Carlton, of St Laurence Road, who is a member of Keep Bradford on Avon Green, said: "Many of the houses near the proposed golf course housing development date from the early 1920s and 30s and the sewage infrastructure is already old.
"Building houses on the golf course means that there will be less ground available to absorb occasional periods of torrential rain. More houses will mean more sewage going into an old system and the first thing that occurs during torrential rain is overflowing sewers.
"There have already been concerns raised about the health risks posed by the site after a report conducted by Geotechnical Engineering identified 'potential sources of metal contamination and landfill gas generation' from the grounds, which was originally used as a landfill site.
Roger Collett argued that wildlife living in and around the golf centre would also be threatened.
Christine Ford, of St Laurence Road, said: "I think the idea is atrocious, there are not enough green spaces as it is. If they put houses there they will lose the character of the area."
Many people expressed their concern over the gridlock that would be generated, while others said the general aesthetic of the town would be ruined and result in Bradford simply moving out and becoming a 'suburb' of many of the larger surrounding towns.
David Hartley, of Fitzmaurice Close, said: "The town is already choc-a-bloc with traffic. I'm not against houses being built. It is more about the congestion and it contradicts the Government saying they want to be more green.
"Most people have two cars so if there are 200 houses that makes 400 cars."
There were also concerns raised over the fact the golf course is on private land, which the owner wants to sell off for development, which could mean the town council has less sway over its future.
Cllr Vicky Landell Mills said: "What has come forward today is a very cogent list of why this site is very special to the town. "There is a lot of money behind this and I think we do have to be ready to respond to the bigger challenges."
The town council, chaired by mayor Cllr Paul Skidmore, voted unanimously against the outline planning application.
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