Last week Herefordshire Council planning committee unanimously rejected the attempt by David Wilson Homes to build 50 houses on a greenfield site between Bartestree and Lugwardine. This proved another success for the Parish Action Group (Facebook - HandsOffOurVillage), set up to oppose the flood of such opportunistic applications until the Core Strategy and local Neighbourhood Plan are in place.
What is sickening however is that the would-be developers immediately stated that they would appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. This was already anticipated by Councillors and officials in the debate, as it has become standard procedure for big developers countrywide. Their aim is to intimidate Councils, who then have to find the costs of legal defence from their tight budgets.
The developers have had a clear message of rejection from a huge number of local people, from the Parish Council and now from Herefordshire Council. They simply do not care, and will use their big money and lawyers to try to have their way.
We should all be angry about this – it is our money, badly needed for local services, which has to be diverted to fight these bullies. Such developers should learn to live with the democratic decisions of the elected councils.
Nigel Shore,
7 Hagley Orchard,
Bartestree,
HR1 4BU
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