A DISPUTED housing development on the outskirts of Worcester has received approval from city councillors.
The 18-property estate, which includes 13 two-bedroom houses, three one-bedroom flats, two two-bed flats and 20 car parking spaces, will be situated on land the to the rear of 67 Martley Road.
Planning members approved the proposals by four votes to two, with three abstentions, in a heated debate at the Guildhall last Thursday (April 24) which saw residents express their displeasure.
Resident Peter Hill said he felt there were too many houses for the available space.
“The plans exceed government regulations by four dwellings,” he said.
“In 1981 two dwellings were rejected, in 2008 nine bungalows were proposed but due to financial reasons withdrawn. Now in 2014 18 dwellings are proposed, double the 2008 quantity. It’s too many dwellings for the site.
“Parking is a major, major issue to the local community. It’s alright for the Highways Officer to say it’s not an issue, but you only have to go down the road and see the traffic.
“All this development will do is make it worse.”
The former waste-tip land currently houses a number of caravans with members and residents raising concerns about contamination and a large electric pylon on the site.
Architect Andy Hames said: “We have done a full ground investigation, including percolation tests and there will be no problems.
“We’ve had two officers out from Western Power and they took measurements and the voltage of the pylon was not one of concern.”
The meeting heard how the entrance and exit to the site is on a blind corner, with cars recording speeds in excess of the 30 miles per hour speed limit, something which Coun Chris Mitchell, councillor for St Clement, said concerned him greatly.
“The planned entrance and exit, which are on a major road, is dangerous being on a blind corner,” he said.
“The committee has elected members to make decisions for the good of the community and for the good of Worcester. As elected members you have little value if you effectively rubber-stamp recommendations by officers.”
The development includes 18 residents car parking spaces and two visitor spaces, taking 12 spaces away from the existing housing.
Coun Robert Rowden, councillor for Battenhall, added: “I don’t see anything wrong with building on that piece of land but it does seem to me it’s not an ideal entrance or exit to the site.
“Irrespective of the parking it’s on a corner and I know one can talk about 30 miles per hour speed limits, but 30 miles per hour is quite fast on a corner in a built up area.”
A condition was made to improve the access.
