20-home scheme sparks concern (From Cotswold Journal)

20-home scheme sparks concern

11:00am Monday 18th March 2013 in News

PLANS for 20 new homes in a village near Evesham have stalled after councillors decided they needed more time to investigate.

Wychavon District Council’s planning committee decided to defer the outline application at land adjoining Main Street, Sedgeberrow, to allow for a site visit. The plans, put forward by Sedgeberrow Nominees Ltd, have attracted strong objections from the community with 29 letters of objections and only two in support.

Councillor Maureen Pratt, chairman of Sedgeberrow Parish Council, said a “development on this scale” would have a “profound effect” on the community.

“The highway is frequently congested with parked vehicles and the local bus company is threatening to withdraw,” she said.

“It’s well-known the village suffers from major flooding problems. There’s no evidence that further housing is needed.”

But Miranda Rogers, principal planner at Stansgate Planning, who was representing the applicant, said Sedgeberrow was sustainable.

“Our drainage engineer confirmed the scheme will not increase surface water run-off,” she said.

Coun Roma Kirke, ward member for Elmley Castle and Somerville, disagreed.

“Would this development have an adverse effect on the community?

I believe it would,” she said. “There are serious concerns about access, traffic and parking. Sedgeberrow has recently lost its shop and post office. There’s no village hall.

“The school is almost full to capacity. The village is deficient in local services. The application has failed to realise the main concerns of the residents.

I’m going to ask for this application to be deferred for more investigation to go on, in particular flood alleviation.”

The plans will be revisited at the next planning meeting on Thursday, March 28.