Heated debate over plans for new rural village to be built
CAMPAIGNERS HAVE dismissed plans to build an entire new village in Yorkshire’s most affluent district as “illogical” as they criticise the council’s handling of a consultation event.
For months, a contentious debate has raged over the siting of a new settlement, with up to 3,000 new homes to be built to meet Harrogate’s housing shortfall. The local authority revealed in June its preference to choose Green Hammerton over Flaxby, and consultations have been ongoing. Now, after Harrogate Borough Council attended a heated public meeting in the village with developers at their side, residents have spoken of their fury at the plans.
“The consultation gave us nothing new or convincing,” said Chris Chelton, the chairman of Keep Green Hammerton Green action group. “The fact that they had decided to share their consultation with Commercial Estates Group (CEG) spoke of this being more than a mere recommendation in their eyes. CEG should not have been there and their presence was ill-judged, inappropriate and insensitive to the feelings of most residents.”
There were angry scenes at the meeting, with the action group dismissing suggestions Green Hammerton had better public transport than Flaxby, which it has long argued is a better fit for the settlement.
Coun Rebecca Burnett, the council’s cabinet member for planning, said developers had been invited to give residents detailed information.
“Development is a controversial topic but nevertheless we engage right at the heart of communities so as many people as possible can be fully informed,” she said. “Unfortunately on occasion, as was the case at this exhibition, strength of feeling manifests as anger rather than constructive conversation. That is a shame and it brings into question whether it is effective for us to hold such exhibitions in the same format in the future.”
All sites were controversial, she added, stressing no decisions had been made: “We will be choosing a site for a new settlement and it is inconceivable that every person will be happy with our decision.”