Councillor vows to fight 200-home plan for greenfield site

INDEPENDENT Councillor Neil Johnson has vowed to stand with the community and oppose plans for 200 homes on a greenfield site near Turrett Hall Farm in Croft.

Plans have been tabled for the 8.26-hectare site off Lord Street this week. The applicant claims the site should be treated as “grey belt,” though previous council assessments rated this land as making a strong contribution to the Green Belt. Main vehicular access is proposed via a new junction on Lord Street.
Cllr Neil Johnson has promised to lead the campaign, citing increased pressure on local roads, services and the wider infrastructure as “clear” grounds for refusal.

Cllr Neil Johnson says: “I want to be the first elected representative of the community to state clearly that I will oppose this application without equivocation. I will stand shoulder to shoulder with residents to fight these plans.
“Our area cannot support a development of this size. It will be out of keeping with the rest of the village and have a significant impact on our existing services and infrastructure.
“It is my intention to study the documents closely in the coming days. All available avenues will be explored in resisting this push by the developer. I will oppose the application when it is considered by the Council, and I know that Croft Parish Council will do the same.
“In the meantime, I encourage all residents to read the proposals, submit their own objections, and support the community initiatives such as the forthcoming protest. I also welcome people attending the next meeting of Croft Parish Council where questions from members of the public can be posed.
“I hope that the local MP and the local Labour councillors will urge their Town Hall colleagues to resist this application by any means possible.
“Let us work together to safeguard the future of Croft.
“When we work together, we win together.”