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.
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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.
Posted by: Public Spirit, Wiltshire on 9:05am Sun 6 Jul 08
Mr Hartley and Government have to realise that people have cars. Get a life and get used to it. Even the green libby fanatics in BOA are kinda part of the rest of the country...I think!!
Mr Hartley and Government have to realise that people have cars. Get a life and get used to it. Even the green libby fanatics in BOA are kinda part of the rest of the country...I think!!
Posted by: Walter McCabe, Freshford on 9:51am Mon 7 Jul 08
Thin end of a very thick wedge for Bradford On Avon, but I havent seen the name of the "owner" of the golf course, only his developer chums, we need this printed please! This could also cause considerable social problems on that side of town with additional folks of very different perspectives side by side with entrenched views!
Thin end of a very thick wedge for Bradford On Avon, but I havent seen the name of the "owner" of the golf course, only his developer chums, we need this printed please! This could also cause considerable social problems on that side of town with additional folks of very different perspectives side by side with entrenched views!
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