Six homes into one just doesn't go, say residents (From Warrington Guardian)

Six homes into one just doesn't go, say residents

FURIOUS campaigners have joined forces to condemn property developers for "trying to turn Nantwich into a concrete roundabout."

Residents in Marsh Lane, Millfields, Wyche Lane and Cherry Grove have united with Cllr Arthur Moran to fight plans to demolish a property on Marsh Lane and replace it with six four-bedroomed detached houses.

The proposed development is the latest in a long line of similar plans for the Marsh Lane area.

And campaigners claim residents are being targeted by various contractors who want to buy their homes, knock them down and build a greater number of properties in their place.

In 2002, one Marsh Lane property was knocked down and replaced by three detached houses, and earlier this year, plans to demolish another property and replace it with three dwellings were knocked back.

Cllr Arthur Moran said: "We have seen this coming in the respect that we fought a plan in which one perfectly good house was demolished and then three detached houses were built in its' place.

"At the time we said that they were creating a precedent, and I think most people in Nantwich believe that we have enough applications going through already.

"I will be speaking to the planning committee to organise a site visit, so hopefully (councillors) will be convinced that this sort of thing will be completely detrimental to the town.

"We have had to go along with the big housing developments to conform with the Local Plan, and there is just no need for these extra windfall sites."

The campaigners have held two public meetings over the past week to mobilise support for their fight.

They are concerned about the environmental impact the development would have on the area, and are asking the council to place protection orders on the trees which would be chopped down.

Residents also fear bats, tawny owls, woodpeckers and other wildlife living in the trees would be killed off by the development.

Another concern is that the development would increase congestion on a road which already serves Millfields Primary School.

They also fear that placing the entrance to the properties on a bend would be dangerous.

Janssen Bostock, of Cherry Grove, added: "We used to live on the edge of the countryside but now it's just turning into one big housing estate.

"We're not saying you shouldn't develop in the right places.

"But we have a lovely view now and this development will ruin everything for people who have lived in Nantwich all their lives. It is all about the character of the town and it feels like they are trying to turn Nantwich into a big, concrete roundabout."