Residents' anger over housing plans for 'inappropriate' flood-hit field in Bedworth

[dutchman]

In heavy rain pours flood water on the nearby road rises to shin height



Anger has erupted among residents over housing plans for a flood-hit field near their homes in Bedworth. Those who live in Dove Close already feel the impact of flooding in the area.

When there is heavy rain, flood water can rise as high as shin height on Woodlands Road, which is the main route onto the quiet cul-de-sac. The nearby fields also flood - including the site where AR Cartwrights wants to build 29 one, two, three and four bedroom dwellings and one apartment block.

As we reported in our newsletter, the firm has submitted a planning application to Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council asking for permission to build the homes on a section of land, known as site 93C004 Woodlands Lane.

This is farmer's land that sits to the side of Dove Close and which residents say is simply not suitable for housing. They claim that existing flooding issues in the area would only be made worse by the development.

They also claim that the patch of land is not within the Borough Plan. Controversially, part of the Woodlands estate now features in the blueprint for all future development land across the two towns- but the residents say that specific piece of land is not in it.

While not green belt land, the Dove Close site 93C004 Woodlands Lane is not the section of land, known as HSG4, which has been identified for housing in the Borough Plan.

They also say that, in the council's five year housing land supply, the target is already being met in terms of new housing for the borough.

They have now mounted a campaign to oppose the housing which saw almost every single resident in the cul-de-sac attending a meeting at the nearby Woodlands Club.

"We are not NIMBYs, this is just not the right place for housing," said one of the residents.

"It is a wholly inappropriate place for housing, the whole area is awash with flooding and where they want to put housing is one of these places."

They have said that there are other issues associated with the proposal for the new homes, including a lack of access to public transport as well as the notorious daily traffic jams along the busy stretch of road.

Members of the borough council's planning team are now looking at the proposals.

As part of the planning application process people can have their say about the application. Details can be found on the council's website, under the planning application section. The reference number is 038664.

The decision date for the application has been set as May 6.