Councillors hear residents' concerns over homes plan

Residents concerned at proposals to build 60 homes in Long Stratton have met councillors and planning officers to discuss their worries.

The meeting was arranged by South Norfolk Councillors Alistair Miller and Peter Smith, who represent Long Stratton, and was chaired by Cllr Philip Waltham, who leads for the Council on the environment and has planning as one of his key responsibilities.

Cllr Waltham said afterwards:

"Residents had been talking to us about the proposed housing scheme, and we thought it would be helpful if we brought them together with planning officers and ourselves and to answer as many questions as we could and to listen to their concerns.

"The meeting was a great success. I think the residents appreciated the degree of knowledge, care and understanding shown by the officers for them, and for the concerns of those living in Lime Tree Avenue. The officers will now put those concerns to the developers."

He said:

"I wholeheartedly support residents in their concerns about the increase in traffic that will use this road. Lime Tree Avenue was designed as a narrow cul-de-sac and in my view is clearly not suitable for the kind of traffic that would be generated by 60 additional families using it as route to their homes.

"If the proposal for these extra houses goes ahead, I believe the provision of another entrance road to the new development is essential."

Andrew Lansdell, the Chairman of Long Stratton Parish Council also attended the meeting, and residents were represented by Paul Ruddock and Tim Hunt of Lime Tree Avenue.

Cllr Waltham added:

"The residents' major concern is for the provision of an extra access road to serve the proposed development. Points raised by the residents included the need for the provision of extra play areas for the children of the area but were chiefly centered on the problems that would arise from extra traffic using Lime Tree Avenue.

"We are determined to do our best to ensure that the scheme will be the best for the residents and location. The developers must think very carefully of their duty to preserve the quality of life of the families who have their homes in Lime Tree Avenue."

The meeting lasted one and a half hours and was attended by two planning officers, two residents, two parish councillors, the two District Councillors and Cllr Waltham.

Cllr Waltham, who normally sits on the Council's main planning committee will not be part of the consideration given to the application at Planning Committee, should it reach that stage

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