"Urban Vandalism" as development at Rainsford Road/Parkway junction nears completion

12.00.00am GMT Fri 30th Oct 2009

Stephen Robinson explaining to Primrose Hill residents why the Lib Dems are opposing "town cramming" sites across Chelmsford

"Vindicated" is a word that describes how the residents of Critchett Terrace must be feeling at present, but that will doubtlessly feel hollow when they look out their bedroom windows. The re-development of the old Jeep Chrysler garage into 42 flats is now there for all to see. A new 5 storey high monster totally overpowers the attractive historic dwellings that now sit in its shadow.

Residents of Primrose Hill and Critchett Terrace campaigned tirelessly and in great detail at and between several Council planning meetings, with the strong support of their local Lib Dem Councillors and many others. It seemed clear that the sheer scale of the proposed development would breech planning policy.

It would be totally out of keeping with the street scene, depriving the 2-storey Victorian terraced houses in the immediate area of light, and adding to traffic and parking problems. But the Council's Planning Committee didn't see it that way, and approval was rubber-stamped in the face of much criticism..

Resident Iain Cameron fluctuates between anger and resignation. "The only words to describe this new Chelmsford landmark are 'urban vandalism" he said. " Now that the development can be appreciated in full size and without obstruction, the Planning Committee members who approved this must surely be looking at the flats with a Dr Frankenstein "what have I created?" look of horror. Not only do the flats utterly dwarf our homes and the surrounding landscape, they utterly dwarf the building on the corner of Duke St that they were supposed to mirror."

Borough Councillor for the area Graham Pooley is still appalled at the decision to build here on this scale. "Redevelopment of unused sites in the town is right in principle" he says, "but too often decisions are being made to cram in more and more flats at the expense of family housing, and Government targets at the expense of existing residents. It hurts to say "we told them so", but this development has fulfilled our worst fears."

The Planning Committee and officers are now to be urged to visit the end result to see how their decision has turned out. Resident Michael Walsh said, "We just weren't listened to. By acknowledging this mistake at least we can hope they won't nod through subsequent developments of a similar nature."

Critchett Terrace residents now open their curtains in the morning to an unforgettable red vista. Sadly the red is red brick, and not the rising sun."

FLASHBACK: Lib Dems have been opposing this since first proposed in 2007. See: http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/news/000178.html

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