Homes plan criticised by council

PLANS to build four houses on land next to Whitchurch Cricket Club have drawn objections from residents and the councillors.

Richard Hazell wants to develop the land south of Hardwick Road.

The homes would comprise one two-bedroom home, two three-bedroom homes and one four-bedroom dwelling.

Currently, the land holding extends to about
3.2 acres of equestrian land, consisting of paddocks, a manège and stables.

In its supporting statement agent Bourne Rural said that due to “the lack of five-year housing land supply for the district” that the relevant development plan policies which the application would be measured against “should be deemed out-of-date”.

Whitchurch Parish Council said that it recognised that there is a need for more housing and while it did not object to the principle it recommended that the application is rejected due to concerns related to an access road and its location.

Writing on behalf of the parish clerk, Brian Inglis said: “Probably the most serious concern is related to the considerable safety risks this new access road poses for parents and children travelling to the village primary and pre-schools twice a day.

“The proposed junction is in the middle of the designated school drop-off and pickup location on Hardwick Road where there are normally more than a dozen cars parked twice a day.

“We also want to encourage active travel and there is a steady stream of parents and young children on the pavement on the way to and from school.”

South Oxfordshire  District Council, the planning authority, will make the final decision by January 5.