Barratts are proposing to build 420 homes with a local centre and shop. Possible accesses to the site could be off Park Lane and/or Badminton Road or through The Meads development.
Claire Young and Pat & Dave Hockey attended the site walkabout (pictured) and the first part of the workshop to find out what is proposed and to listen to the views of the residents who attended. We made it very clear to Barratts that by doing this we were in no way endorsing any application for this site. Over the past year, we have made sure that the Woodlands site was not included in South Glos Council’s planning blueprint for 2012-2026, the Core Strategy. “This area is left in the plan as open countryside as we know only too well that this is what local people want,” said Pat Hockey.
Every single resident at the workshop opposed development at Woodlands Farm and made it clear to Barratts that they value living in a village. They highlighted concerns including the loss of countryside, the impact on roads, drainage problems and pressure on local services such as schools and doctors.
Westerleigh ward councillor Claire Young said, “I am disappointed that Barratts are jumping the gun in this way. The Council’s Core Strategy says that communities should shape development in their villages through Neighbourhood Planning. It is local residents and businesses, not the developers, who should be in the driving seat.”
“Unfortunately the workshop was poorly handled. Local people were rightly unhappy at the short notice given, especially for an event being held on a weekday when many of them had to be at work. It was unwise to invite only immediate neighbours and local councillors without telling other residents when they will be able to find out about the plans.”
“The site is in Westerleigh Parish and stretches down to Badminton Road in Coalpit Heath. Despite this their brochure refers to Frampton Cotterell throughout and they chose to hold the workshop in the public building in Frampton Cotterell Parish furthest away from the site, even though there are a three community halls close to the site in Coalpit Heath."
Barratts have now promised to talk to Westerleigh Parish Council about holding a further workshop in Coalpit Heath and they say there will be an exhibition open to all members of the public in the spring. We will keep you updated through Focus and this blog.
What can you do now?
- Join the action group by contacting Richard Merrick on 01454 776693 or rjmerrick@blueyonder.co.uk
- Comment on the policies for the rural areas in the Council's Core Strategy by following the advice in this blog post.
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