It’s been a busy time for those trying to protect green fields at South Stoke from development.
The B&NES planning committee met at the Bath Guildhall this week but decided to defer a decision.
The following is a press release from the South of Bath Alliance.
“As you’ve probably heard, the Planning Committee yesterday decided to defer their final decision for a month or two. They felt that they did not yet have sufficient information to judge the application.
This is a reasonable result for us because, given that the Planning Officer’s report recommended permitting this application, the odds were stacked against us! And even if it had been refused yesterday, the Hignett Family Trust would almost certainly have appealed.
We are waiting for further news about what and when it will go back to the Committee. But the concerns they expressed and the information they asked for included, among other things:
- Traffic impact analysis to be based on a more up-to-date survey of traffic in the area
- Clear explanation of the exceptional circumstances for building so many extra houses in the AONB
- More progress on the crossing of the Wansdyke scheduled ancient monument.
Thank you to the great many of you who joined our peaceful protest outside the Guildhall, attended the meeting itself, or sent messages of support. It was hugely encouraging for us, and the Planning Committee can have been left in no doubt of the very strong views of the local community about this application.
The campaign goes on, so many thanks for your ongoing support!”
Let’s just hope that common sense will prevail – for once. I used to walk those fields as a child with my father. I’d like to be able to continue to do the same with my grandchildren.