Residents have been angered by leaflets dropped through their letter boxes in Failand and Wraxall detailing proposals about the creation of a new town on areas of greenbelt land.<\/p>\n
The Failand development to be spread across 55 acres of land would include nearly 500 new homes a new village green, a ‘potential’ primary school, recreational areas, improvements to the highway, a new gas supply, a ‘potential’ doctors surgery and ‘potential’ for local employment. A new half hourly bus service would also be introduced.<\/p>\n
Despite the ‘potential’ positives, residents are furious about the proposals and a working group has now been set up to stop the plans becoming a reality.<\/p>\n
Local Wraxall resident Martin John, (33) told us he was ‘livid’ after reading the leaflet about the proposed development. Mr John said: \u201cI am disgusted that there are more proposals to build on more greenbelt land. This land shouldn’t be used when there is so many empty dilapidated dwellings and buildings that could be utilised for homes instead. It makes more sense to me to develop these empty buildings in Bristol than to build even more and create a concrete jungle in an area of outstanding natural beauty. My family and I choose to live in the Wraxall and Failand area because of what it is now, not what it could become. \u201d<\/p>\n
Cheshire based Fox Land and Property (FLP) are behind the development plans. They are a subsidiary of private property developer Gladman developments. This large UK developer of office and industrial accommodation has recently expanded into residential development.<\/p>\n
In 2007, FLP unveiled their plans to spend \u00a3100m buying up ‘strategic’ land over the next 12 months looking for sites of ten acres and above for either housing or mixed-use development and focusing on agricultural locations.<\/p>\n
A similar proposal headed by Gladman developments sparked a resident campaign Group against Greenway,\u00a0 in September 2005. The group opposed plans from Greenway Land LLP to build a similar new town on agricultural land in North Buckinghamshire, between the town of Winslow and villages of Great Horwood and Little Horwood.<\/p>\n
Greenway Land planned to build around 3,500 houses in the area. In April 2009, the ‘Winslow Green’ planning application submitted by Greenway Land LLP was rejected by Aylesbury Vale District Council’s Strategic Developmental Control committee. Though the Committee were unanimous in the decision to oppose the proposal, Greenway Land has six months from this date to appeal the decision. Should they do so the appeal will then be called in by central government and put to a public enquiry. The Group against Greenway stress how important it is for the local community to continue their efforts to successfully oppose the plans.<\/p>\n
Greenway Land LLP is currently a partly owned subsidiary of Gladman Developments through FLP. The project manager for the Winslow Green development was Martin Twigg, who is also connected to FLP.<\/p>\n
FLP are inviting resident feedback and will be holding further consultation sessions at Redwood Hotel and Country Club on July 30 at 2pm until 8pm and at Long Ashton Village Hall, Keedwell Hill on July 31st\u00a0 from 2pm until 8pm.<\/p>\n
Objections and comments can also be sent by post or email by the 7th of August 2009 to:
\nFLP
\nGladman House
\nAlexandria Way
\nCongleton
\nCheshire
\nCW12 1LB
\nOr email yourviews@gladman.co.uk<\/p>\n