Gisborough Way plan is deferred by councillors
A CONTROVERSIAL planning application to build on a piece of Loughborough land, which residents believe was intended to be an area of public open space, has been deferred.
Nine members of the Charnwood Borough Council planning committee voted in favour of deferring the application that looks to build a oneand-a-half storey, three-bedroom house on the corner of Gisborough Way and Byland Way.
The decision was made at a meeting on Tuesday, August 1, as councillors felt they required more information before a vote could take place.
The Echo previously reported bids for planning permission in 2014 and 2015 were rejected and the latest proposal sparked residents in the area to start a petition to keep the land as an area of open space.
The council has received 21 letters of objection to the latest proposal from occupiers of neighbouring properties and county councillor Coun Max Hunt also objects to the plans.
At the meeting, Gisborough Way resident David Parish spoke of how the area has been used by residents for community events, such as a Jubilee party, and as a children’s play area.
He told councillors he had looked into the planning archives and said a revised version of the original housing development plans intended for the land to be used as an area of open space.
He said: “The aim was that it be adopted by Charnwood Borough Council. There was a clear understanding.”
Ward councillor Coun Luke Smith also spoke at the meeting and told councillors when the land was last sold it was described as ‘public open space’.
He said: “It was always intended by the planning department to be an open space and to protect it as such. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.”
Councillors heard from officers that, though there may have been a “gentleman’s agreement”, there is no legal requirement under any of the planning permissions for the housing estate for the land to be retained as public open space.
Coun Iain Bentley said: “I think it’s an awful position that we’re in, I think residents of that area deserve to have it as a green space.”
Coun Sandie Forrest said: “I think we should defer because I can’t vote for or against this application because I do not think we have sufficient information that will allow me to come to a reasoned decision.”
Coun David Snartt added: “I want it to come back with a reply to how it was sold, because that is the crux of the matter.
“If it was sold as open space then it should be upheld.”