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Published:
April 28, 2008
Town
councillors back protesters fighting 69 new Burnham homes
 Burnham-On-Sea
Town Council's Planning Applications Committee gave its support
to residents fighting a proposed new development of 69 homes on
Tuesday evening (April 29th).
Councillors
unanimously voted in favour of objecting against the controversial
scheme to build a housing development on land to the west of Lawrence
Close and north of Wallace Wells Road.
On
Tuesday, residents filled the town council's court room to hear
the planning applications committee debate the application (as
pictured above).
Councillors
closely reviewed the plans - which have recently been revised
by Persimmon to reflect six fewer homes - and assessed their original
objections.
One
of the committee's members, Cllr Ken Smout, said: "All are
original objections regarding overcrowding, out-of-keeping new
properties, traffic issues and a need for contamination checks
remain valid with the revised scheme."
And
Cllr Chris Williams added: "It's far too dense a development
for this site." Committee chairman Cllr Peter Clayton took
a vote and there was unanimous backing for the council to object
to the proposals.
Sedgemoor
District Council's Development Control Committee will now have
the final say on whether the scheme goes ahead during the next
few weeks.
Nigel
Kemp, leader of the residents' action group, spoke during Tuesday's
meeting on behalf of the people who live around the site.
He
said: "Residents are extremely concerned about the extra
traffic that would be generated by a second substantial development
in the immediate area."
 "Lawrence
Close is not at all suitable for such an increased level of vehicular
activity due to its narrowness and its block paved road surface.
There are no pavements within the block paved areas and therefore
existing residents will be put at risk."
"Currently,
service vehicles reverse up Lawrence Close due to limited manouevering
space. The intended completion of the Frank Foley Parkway, the
BT land and this proposed development will create immense congestion
at the junction of Pepperall Road and Burnham Road. This is already
apparent, especially at Bank Holiday and school times."
Mr
Kemp also said that residents fear the proposed site is out of
keeping. "The proposed dwellings are in no way consistent
with existing properties. Apart from brick, the colours proposed
are terracotta, cream and one plot is even powder blue."
"The
existing properties are semi-detatched and detached two, three
and four bedroom family houses with front and rear gardens, which
provide a safe family environment. The proposed development of
coach houses, courtyards and terraced houses are not at all in
keeping with the neighbourhood and will cause overshadowing and
loss of privacy."
On
the matter of density, Mr Kemp added: "Whilst recognising
there are Government guidelines regarding density, the proposed
development is too dense and represents over-development to maximise
the site. This over-development will destroy the local community.
The development will be taking a backwards step in social responsibility
and possibly encourage crime. Further development to the North
West of the site is in keeping with the rest of the existing area
where planning proposals are for three and five bedroom detatched
family homes."
The
residents also said they have concerns about environmental issues.
Our
photos show residents at Tuesday's meeting in Burnham; and the
site of the proposed development.
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