Residents to question planners over Alcester homes

A PUBLIC meeting will be held to allow residents to question developers over plans to build 350 homes in Alcester following concerns from campaigners residents were being sidelined.

Members of the Eclipse Road Residents Group are worried two planning applications for houses to be built north of Allimore Lane have had limited public consultation.

The applications submitted to Stratford-on-Avon-District Council propose 190 houses by Gallagher Estates, Pettifer Developments and Bloor Homes Ltd and a further 160 houses by J S Bloor.

Group member Andy Mann, said residents felt sidelined by the district council, Alcester Town Council and developers as meetings with residents had not taken place since April 2010.

He said: “If approved, the housing scheme proposed would be by far the biggest development Alcester has seen in 50 years, yet no community involvement was arranged when the applications were first submitted.

“We find this almost unbelievable and would ask why this is the case, when in 2000, for a similar proposal, a public display was staged by the developer and Alcester Town Council arranged a public meeting.

“Local residents have had no invitation to be involved at any stage since April 2010. It is therefore clear the Statement of Community Involvement submitted is incorrect if it claims local residents have had the opportunity to be involved in the process.”

He added amended plans had been submitted and the 21 day consultation period started. He called for a community meeting so the town could be fully informed.

“Without this, the proper democratic protocol will have been ignored, and the district council will be letting the developer dictate the process.”

Following the group’s request county councillor Mike Gittus said he and district councillors Sue Adams and Eric Payne had called on Bloor Homes to provide a public exhibition and question the developer which will take place on March 14 at Globe House.

He added: “I see this type of public engagement as a crucial step in any application, particularly in one of this scale and size.”

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