"Tile Hill home plans will stretch local services community fear"

[dutchman]

There are fears that schools, GPs and services could become over-stretched



Neighbours in Tile Hill fear plans for another 120 houses will create a community without services, placing pressure on already “oversubscribed” schools and GPs.

Banner Lane could see 120 homes built on the site of science firm Bruker UK, which has proposed to build a new headquarters north of the site on vacant grassland.

The scheme is split into two applications but combined has drawn 31 letters of objection ahead of a decision by Coventry’s planning committee today (Thursday, March 25).

Planning officers have recommended approval while Bruker has said the plans will provide a new “fit-for-purpose” HQ and meet a “pressing need for new homes”.

But residents say the area is being saturated by homes without the facilities.

They pointed to a scheme on Bannerbrook Park estate which was promised a primary school to serve wider plans for 380 homes – although this never materialised.

One resident Phil Cox said: “There’s only one school in the local area which is Leigh School. It is oversubscribed already.

“There’s only one GP servicing this whole area on Station Avenue which is also oversubscribed and you can’t get an appointment.

“There was an expectation on the previous plans there would be a GP and school and now there’s plans for even more houses and pressure on the local infrastructure, and still no consideration for it. It is really short-sighted and they have completely gone back on plans for community investment.”

Another resident, Nigel Coxhead, said there was “scant regard” to community facilities.

He said: “The medical facilities in the area are chronic to say the least, primary school education and pre-school availability is under significant pressure.

“They have quoted there are four primary schools within 1km of the site, but it isn’t true as there aren’t. Not even as a crow flies.”