Residents furious over homes plan (From Gazette & Herald)

Residents furious over homes plan

PLANS for a new housing development have sparked fierce objections among residents of a quiet North Yorkshire town.

They are strongly against the plan by Lindrick Homes to build 16 houses and flats on greenfield land between Feversham Drive and Piercy End, New Road, Kirkbymoorside.

Ryedale District Council has received several letters of objection from residents concerned about the type of people the development would attract, increased traffic, and infringement of privacy. Planning officers have recommended that the plans be approved at a meeting tomorrow.

"I fear that some will be let sooner or later to either drug-dealers, noisy perpetual drunkards, or other troublemakers and associated wasters. Certainly, the likelihood of noise nuisance from flats that are close to our property would be very high," said Andy Grayson, of Piercy End, in a letter to the planning officers.

"My specific concerns about (the application) are that it is proposed to build a block of flats directly behind my property, and a row of houses, some three storeys high, again directly behind my property. Instead of having a private back yard, and open view of meadow and hedges, we will be very much over-shadowed by the large, ugly gable-end of a block of flats."

Alvyn and Sheila Harrison, both of Piercy End, said the entrance to the new development would be close to a roundabout which would make the A170 "extremely hazardous for pedestrians and drivers".

Antony Bentley and Elaine Hodgson, also of Piercy End, said: "We are concerned about the increase in noise, due to the traffic connected to the development, to the western end of our property, which is currently a peaceful and quiet area."

Neighbour Margaret Roberts said the buildings would not be in keeping with the character of the existing buildings around the area, let alone enhancing them.

Chris Patmore, director of Lindrick Homes, said: "We specialise in building in sensitive locations.

"We have worked closely with the planners at Ryedale to put forward a development which is in sympathy with its surroundings. We have taken account of issues like traffic flows, but the development is relatively small and we are confident that it will only have a positive impact on the community. The scheme provides a mix of high-quality family homes and smaller properties."

Updated: 10:41 Monday, October 13, 2003