We are going to fight this (From Warrington Guardian)

We are going to fight this

MORE than 60 residents have declared battle on a housing developer who looks set to change the face of Newton.

Elderly residents from Willow Court, off High Street, and homeowners in Yewtree Avenue have vowed to halt three separate planning applications by Whitechapel Enterprises.

Just this week, the developers submitted another application to St Helens Council for the former Total Garage site on High Street, to build six three-storey maisonettes and a retail unit on High Street.

That application follows a scheme submitted last month for a series of three-storey flats.

And residents living in Yewtree Avenue, off Crow Lane East, are opposing plans for 15 two-bedroom luxury apartments to be built in the area by the same developers

Residents of Willow Court claim either development would overlook their accommodation and block out daylight.

Margery Latham, aged 72, who lives at Willow Court with husband Alan, aged 79, said: "We are very upset.

"This development will be directly in front of us and we'll have no privacy if this goes ahead.

"People living in the new flats will be able to peer in."

At an action meeting with Newton councillors Neil Taylor and Peter Asbury last Tuesday, other residents at Willow Court, who are aged between 60 and 90, expressed fears that there would be an increase in traffic noise from the development.

Ronald Smith, aged 82, who lives at Willow Court with wife Joan, aged 76, said: "All residents are worried that their flats will be devalued.

"We thought we'd be here for the rest of our retirement, but it will be different if this development moves in."

A spokesman for Whitechapel Enterprises said: "We consider the site at High Street to be an eyesore in a prominent location within the conservation area.

"A sensitive re-development will improve the outlook for local residents and remove the lawful petrol filling station use and the associated noise and disturbance."Both retail and residential uses would be in accordance with the council's planning policies."

Meanwhile, 13 families living in Yewtree Avenue, off Crow Lane East, are staunchly opposing plans for 15 two-bedroom luxury apartments to be built on the site of an existing car show room by the same developers.

They claim the proposals would overshadow bungalows opposite the site and congest traffic.

Marjorie Howard, who has lived in Yewtree Avenue for 37 years, said: "We'll have people looking down on us from across the road and lose all our light, plus it is not in keeping with the surrounding area.

"We have sent letters of objection to the council and plan to fight it all the way."

Neighbour Hilary Jones said: "I've lived here for 25 years and feel it would be out of character with the surrounding area.

"We are heading for concrete city.

"Newton is a little historic town and this will ruin it."

A spokesman for Whitechapel Enterprises said: "We consider that the high quality apartment scheme proposed would be more appropriate within a residential area than the existing car sales use."

WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT THIS