Green light for 68 more homes in village despite 209 objections

Two hospitalised after block blaze

AT least two people were taken to hospital after a block of flats in Cheltenham caught fire on Thursday evening.

The blaze was described as ‘significant’ by the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service. Footage from Clarence Square showed the windows of the building engulfed with flames and firefighters putting the blaze out.

Flats were evacuated and some residents were also assessed by emergency crews.

DEVELOPERS have won planning permission to build 68 more homes in an “overdeveloped” village in the Mendip Hills.

The homes will be built on fields on either side of the Royal Mail centre in Winscombe and would range from one-bedroom to four-bedroom homes and 30% would be affordable housing.

But the plans have faced fierce opposition in the village. Speaking on behalf of those opposed to the development at North Somerset Council’s planning committee this week, Amanda Boyd said: “Objections far outnumber support.”

In total, 209 objections were logged on the council’s planning portal, with just four comments left in support.

Ms Boyd warned that the development could put another 140 cars on the roads of the village and told the committee: “The only people set to gain from this application are the landowners and the applicant so please refuse this application.”

Winscombe councillor Joe Tristram

added: “Winscombe is already overdeveloped.”

But Des Dunlop, representing the developers, insisted: “The benefits provided outweigh any harm.”

He pointed out that the site was allocated for housing by the council and would help North Somerset meet its housing targets, which the council is currently behind. The council’s own planning officers also recommended that the plans should be approved.

The vote on the plans came hot on the heels of the planning committee’s decision to go against their planning officers’ advice and reject plans for a 70-home development in Congresbury.

But Councillor Mike Solomon said: “This is very different.”

He added: “None of us want to see houses going up by us, but if we all don’t want to see houses going up by us, we will never see new houses. So it’s kind of the lesser of two evils.

“It’s a good site and it’s very very different to the last proposal we turned down.”

Councillors voted 9-1 in favour of granting planning permission, with two abstentions.