Opposition growing to Abbey Road plan (From Evesham Journal)

Opposition growing to Abbey Road plan

8:00am Friday 14th September 2012 in Evesham

TOWN councillors have opposed plans to build on land in the heart of Evesham, saying it would turn its last green acres into a growing concrete slab.

The land along Abbey Road, said to be where the Virgin Mary appeared to the swineherd Eof, has been earmarked as a potential location for 200 homes in the second stage of the South Worcestershire Development Plan.

About 80 people attended the town council meeting on Monday evening bearing a banner asking people to ‘Keep Evesham Green’ and broke into rapturous applause when the council agreed to oppose the plans.

Coun Charlie Homer said: “I think it would be a blot on our countryside.”

Coun Alan Booth said: “That land floods. I don’t think they have put any practical thought into this at all. They have seen a piece of land someone wants to get rid of and thought, ‘let’s put a couple of hundred houses there’.

“We are in danger of having a concrete slab from Redditch to Evesham to Stratford. This town is a jewel in Worcestershire’s crown. Developments like this will spoil it.”

Coun Homer also spoke against plans for development off King’s Road, which were also opposed by the council.

He said: “I would find an increase in dwellings on that area of land inappropriate considering the number of homes already there.” He was supported by Coun Jim Bulman who said he feared the infrastructure would not cope.

However, councillors did not comment on every potential site and made no representation on the significant changes proposed in the SWDP for 10 hectares of employment land at Vale Park and a new bridge crossing the A46, or to plans for housing off Offenham Road.

All comments on the SWDP must be made to Wychavon District Council by tomorrow when the consultation period ends.