Campaign against over-development continues

7.23.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 1st Sep 2008

Cllr. Graham Pooley with concerned residents at the site of the proposed development

A planning application that would lead to over-development in the west of Chelmsford is set to be turned down. This follows a campaign by the local Lib Dem Councillors, working with local residents, concerning a site on the corner of Rainsford Avenue and Rainsford Road

Marconi Ward Councillors Jude Deakin and Graham Pooley (fifth from right) have been active for almost eighteen months to prevent over-development on the site. Working with residents, co-ordinated by neighbour Barrie Allsop (second from left), Cllr. Pooley has for the moment successfully resisted the latest application. That is for 6 flats and 3 town houses on a site where two houses are at present.

Argues Cllr. Pooley, "The officers' recommendation to refuse the application based on parking considerations and impact on immediate neighbours is very welcome. However the reasons for refusal should be stronger or else over-development proposals could return.

"Yet again this is a developer wanting to cram too much into a sensitive, too small site", he said. "If these houses really need to be demolished, we will continue to argue for a maximum of say 5 two bed dwellings, with gardens. That would meet part of the town's housing needs, and be in keeping with the Rainsford Avenue street scene. There are so many unsold flats already, and communal open space doesn't meet all the needs of growing young children."