RETIRED couple Bernard and Shirley Jephcott moved to Redditch 11 years ‘to enjoy a bit of countryside’.
Now their Winyates Green bungalow is set to sit in the shadow of 21metre high warehouses under the proposed Redditch Eastern Gateway.
“I will see these sheds day and night – there will be no escaping them,” said 76-year-old Bernard. “They will be 70ft high and there will be juggernauts going in and out of the site 24 hours a day – it’s going to be horrendous.”
The Jephcotts live at Kingholm Close off Far Moor Lane, close to the A4023 which will lead to the 79 acre development.
The site straddles the Coventry Highway, with 50 acres to the north of the road, in Bromsgrove district, and 29 to the south, in Stratford district. However the visual impact, disruption, noise and light pollution will be all Redditch’s.
“My bungalow is probably worth about £180,000, well it’ll be worth half that now. Who would want to buy in this area?” added Mr Jephcott.
Local Councillor Antonia Pulsford (Con, Winyates) said while she and the borough’s Conservative group supported the Eastern Gateway she would do all she could to represent the concerns of local residents.
“Most of Redditch was built 40 years ago and most of the industrial units are not fit for the demands of today’s companies,” she said. “We have to build the sort of sites modern companies want or Redditch will whither and die.”
She added: “One of my concerns has been the situation of residents in Long Hope Close and the alterations made in the plan, reducing the units from three to two and introducing some green space will go some way to alleviating their situation.
“Ideally I would like Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to management it if that can be achieved.”
She added the plans would also help prevent flooding in the two Far Moor Lane underpasses and successfully dispose of any run off.
