Anger after new estate plan passed
Controversial plans to build more than 100 new homes on a field near a busy Northampton roundabout have been given the go-ahead.
Developers Paddington Churches Housing Association were last night given permission to build 111 houses and flats on land at the end of Booth Rise, in Boothville, near Lumbertubs Way.
At an often heated meeting of the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation, residents packed into the Heroes Lounge at Franklin's Gardens where local borough councillors, county councillors and Northampton North MP, Sally Keeble, all voiced their opposition to the proposal.
Speaking on behalf of the residents' association, Vincent Owen said the local road network and infrastructure could not cope with the new estate.
He said: "The roads are inadequate, the schools are inadequate, the doctors services are inadequate, the buses are inadequate so why are we siting it here? There must be an easier option than this?"
Councillor David Garlick (Lib Dem, Headlands), from Northampton Borough Council, told the committee the local roads were already heavily congested, warning they could not cope with 111 new homes.
He said: "We already have chaos down there we don't need to add to it."
County Councillor Mike Hallam (Cons, Parklands) and Mrs Keeble also opposed the plan.
Speaking on behalf of the proposal, project manager Keith Colley, said the estate, which will include 50 per cent social housing and 50 per cent affordable housing, will ease the town's housing problems.
He told the committee the need for affordable housing was "simply overwhelming", saying there are now 7,100 families on the council's housing list.
He said a county council report on the local road network showed additional traffic would "not exacerbate" the current situation.
The decision was passed by a majority of four to one, with only Councillor Penny Flavell (Con, St Crispin) voting against the plan.
After the decision was made members of the packed public gallery cried "shame on you", while others attempted to remonstrate with members of the committee.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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