Homes plan turned down

FLOOD fears have put a stop to controversial plans for a small housing development in Heathfield.

Proposals to build twelve homes on a plot of land off Tilsmore Road were unanimously refused by members of the district council planning committee on Thursday last week.

Speaking at the meeting, local residents expressed grave concerns about the implications of the plans, in particular the potential drainage, traffic and over-development problems.

Waldron councillor Barbara Clark said: 'The infrastructure in Heathfield is at breaking point. This is a terrible example of over-development. We just cannot keep building houses on this badly drained land.'

Recommendations were to defer the plans for further consultation and investigation, despite protests from Healthfield and Waldron Parish Council and objections from the Highways Agency.

One Tilsmore Road resident, a Mrs Draper, told the committee: 'I would like to see this deferred or turned down. There's just not enough kerb-side space to allow for all the new cars these homes would bring.'

Problems

The Tilsmore Road area has, in the past, suffered from surface-water drainage problems. Locals and Southern Water were deeply concerned that new houses would bring new flood risks.

Other concerns among councillors included loss of privacy for existing residents and the under-provision of smaller houses.

Cllr John Blake said at the meeting: 'We're all aware of the Government's guidance with regard to increased density of housing in urban areas.

'But if, in achieving this density, developers continue to think only in terms of three and four bedroom houses, we're going to run into some serious problems.'

Local resident Peter Meisner added: 'The area down there is really, really beautiful. I'm hoping that the council will understand that there's a very delicate balance with nature there. It just doesn't seem right to build houses all over it.'

Local member Rupert Simmons brought the discussion to a close by saying: 'I have serious concerns about this application being brought to a satisfactory resolution. Therefore, I will recommend that this be refused outright today.'

His proposal was voted for unanimously by the committee. It is expected that the applicant will appeal against the decision.