A NEW planning battle is set to start over controversial housing proposals for Appleton Thorn, Warrington.
Developers Bloor Homes have submitted plans for 74 homes on land off Stretton Road – just four fewer than their previous proposal which was thrown out by borough planners last June.
The new scheme includes eight bungalows following claims from local people that there is a need for single-storey dwellings in the village.
But the new proposals have done nothing to lessen local opposition to the scheme.
Campaign Against Ruining our Environment (CARE) – the action group set up to oppose the proposals – say the amended scheme does little to compensate the village for the loss of the open, green space the development would require.
Preparing their new battle plans opposing the development residents have put up “Save Our Field” banners while local children have tied red ribbons to hedges surrounding the site.
CARE Chairman Alan Murray said: “Appleton Thorn villagers are totally opposed to any development in the centre of the village.As expressed in the Neighbourhood Development Plan, this is an historic village, with an individual character, which we are anxious to defend and maintain. That character relies, to a large extent, on the open green space at the heart of the village.
“The latest plan again ignores the need for perpetuating an open green space. It, as in all the earlier plans, has a narrow grass verge along Stretton Road and a small square of land at the crossroads, dominated by a play area which takes up a third of that area. Villagers deserve, if there must be a development, a far more substantial and useful piece of land stretching from Pepper Street to Arley Road.It would probably require the loss of four or five houses.
“This would provide a common: a place to walk and sit, for children to play; which could be used for the Bawming celebrations, as well as other village events such as concerts, drama productions, fetes and other such activities; a true recreational resource for the whole village and the wider community.
“The Bloor Homes representatives made much of the consideration they were giving to the residents who live in the bungalows on Chapel Lane.The changes they have made will be of tremendous value to those residents.To allow the retention of much more of the open green space on Stretton Road would be of value to all the residents of Appleton Thorn; and provide some compensation for the loss of the existing Village Field.
“With Warrington Borough Council’s Local Plan Preferred Development Option and the HCA proposed developments, green space in our Parish is now of even greater value than when Bloor’s last application was being considered.Villagers, who fear being swamped in a potential urban sprawl, look upon the Village Field as an oasis which we will strive to protect.”
It is now nearly four years since Bloor Homes first announced the proposals with a series of exhibition designed to show how the scheme would benefit the village.
But despite glossy presentations by a PR team, local residents were not convinced and CARE was set up to oppose the plans
More than 170 residents lodged objections to the original scheme and is no sign of any change of heart.
Bloor Homes say they are confident their new proposals take into account the feedback they have received from residents.
