Residents are ‘appalled’ at homes go-ahead
JON MACPHERSON
RESIDENTS have slammed plans to build 34 new homes on green fields.
Hyndburn’s planning committee has given the go-ahead for the scheme on land west of Rhoden Road, Oswaldtwistle, despite 22 objections.
The proposals include upgrading part of Rhoden Road including street widening, resurfacing and off-road parking for existing residents.
However, Simon Thomas, of Rhoden Road, said he is ‘appalled’ by the application and claimed it would stretch the access road - Roe Greave Road - ‘beyond its capacity to cope’. Mr Thomas also claimed the road widening proposals would be ‘extremely dangerous’.
He said: “We have got a lot of old and disabled people on Rhoden Road and it’s a road that’s safe at the moment for children to play out on.
“It’s a rough, narrow road so cars have to slow down on it.
“If it was modernised and widened then we would see an increase in speeds, with three junctions meeting it.
“I’m sick of Hyndburn planning department recommending approval for housing developments in the green fields on our doorsteps.
“It’s an absolute fantasy to believe they can be built on without causing serious and permanent harm to the community.”
Other complaints included increased traffic pollution.
The development will include 20 per cent affordable housing.
Nick Baseley, speaking on behalf of applicant Mr H Grimshaw, said the development would provide ‘quality modern housing’, is not on green belt land and no objections have been raised by statutory consultees.
He told the meeting: “There’s always going to be general opposition to proposals that seek to develop green field land.
“However, the loss of such sites is unfortunately inevitable, whether by planning application or housing allocation, if the council is to meet its current and future housing obligations.”
Immanuel councillor Julie Livesey, who opposed the scheme, said: “Roe Greave Road houses a large number of families with young children who play in this street without the awareness of the traffic and, quite frankly, I’m amazed we haven’t seen an increase in traffic accidents in this area over recent years.”
The application was approved by a majority of the committee.