Families’ anger as homes plan shelved (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Families’ anger as homes plan shelved

10:15am Thursday 10th August 2006 in Chippenham By Zoë Mills

ROWDEN Lane residents watched in exasperation as controversial plans for a new housing estate on their doorstep were put on hold yet again.

More than 20 residents were left fuming after turning up a second time to oppose building giant Wimpey Homes' proposals for the site.

The Bristol-based developer has planning permission for 76 new homes, but wants to change the conditions of the application so work can begin before a new relief road is built.

North Wiltshire District Council's development control committee voted to defer the plans until October's meeting because certain papers were not in place.

But councillor Ron Macgregor said: "I think it is disgusting that this many residents have turned out tonight and we cannot do them the decency of hearing the application. The committee should be ashamed."

It is the latest round in a complicated and bitter wrangle, which has been rumbling on for years.

The fed-up residents claim 500-year-old Rowden Lane is privately owned and not available to any house builder, but Wiltshire County Council say it is a public highway.

Rival developers Redcliffe Homes, which has permission to build on neighbouring land, also resisted the plans and raised concerns about their traffic solution.

Resident Mike Carter said he and his neighbours had lost confidence in the district council over the matter, and suggested the chief executive refer the case to another authority to review.

He said: "I am appalled at the manner in which the whole thing has been handled. What I find it hard to understand is how 24 hours before the meeting they discover they don't have the right papers. Why hasn't it been checked before?

"We've had two withdrawals and two postponements and each time 30 or 40 people turn up wanting to see their councillors consider the matter. It's very frustrating and I suspect the developers are doing this to wear down the opposition or it's down to the ineptitude of the planning department."

His neighbour Ashley Green said many people were now beginning to suspect some kind of conspiracy was going on behind closed doors.

"There are huge holes in this application - is it incompetence or something more sinister? I don't know," he said. "I'm a pretty calm and patient chap generally but I am staggered by this.

"Residents are absolutely astounded that this is allowed to be postponed again at the eleventh hour.

"The next time I turn up I want an assurance that it will be heard properly."