A BEWDLEY estate agent has backed a fight to stop almost 200 new houses being built on countryside land in the town.

Linda Hayden, director of Hayden Estates, said the Gladman Developments proposal for the farm land Lakes Road in Bark Hill would be the “wrong type of housing in the wrong place”.

Mrs Hayden was one of more than 380 people who formed a human chain around half a mile long across the public footpath that runs across the site from Dry Mill Lane and Dowles Road.

Organisers said the aim of the event on Sunday (September 4) was to peacefully protest the plans under the ‘No to Gladman’ campaign.

Evesham Journal:

(Young Bewdley residents Rosie and Isobel Edmundson joined the protest. PHOTO: Adam Fradgley)

Last week, more than 300 residents packed a public meeting against the plan, saying it would ruin the landscape value of Bewdley, add to existing traffic problems and increase pressure on already stretched services such as schools and the medical centre.

A planning application has yet to be submitted for the proposed scheme and Gladman refused to comment when contacted by the Shuttle.

In a consultation document sent to residents, they said there is a need for additional housing and the development would be a mix of high quality homes with 59 affordable properties.

But Mrs Hayden said: “I’m definitely against it. I am Bewdley born and bred and this is absolutely not the correct place for a development of this size.

“The town would not be able to sustain it. The roads wouldn’t be able to cope with the extra volume of traffic. The new medical centre has only just opened and people already have to wait to get an appointment.

“It’s the same situation with the schools in the area – people can’t get their children into the schools so this development would see many moving into the area and adding to this demand.

“Bewdley has closed its last bank, the town’s fire station is set to close and yet there could be as many as 400 more people coming to the area needing these services.

“I agree that there is a need for more affordable housing but most of these properties will be the higher end of the market and will not solve the problem.

“I’m an estate agent and in theory more houses is good news for us. But I’m passionate about protecting our beautiful environment. Once it’s gone, we will not have it back.

“There are other locations in the locale that would be better for such a development. This is not the right development for Bewdley.”

Bewdley Town Councillor Anna Coleman, who recently joined the Green Party from the Tories, has also raised concerns about the development.

She said: “I am still gathering information about the proposed development, but already have some concerns about its economic, social and environmental impact.

“I will be scrutinising these very carefully in terms of the effect on our schools, access to healthcare, air quality, traffic congestion, waste management, and other important elements of our local infrastructure.”