REFERENCE the proposed development of land at Simms and Woods, Chapel Lane, Wyre Piddle. Your article Family firm hopes to leave village legacy refers.
Our village may not benefit in the way the proposal suggests, and Wychavon District Council, the Parish Council and residents are advised to re-examine the claims made by Simms and Woods before giving serious consideration to the proposal.
For instance:
1 How will the building of 35 houses, a village playing field, a children's and youth's play area, countryside walkways and a new village hall reduce the flow of traffic through the village, and in particular, in Chapel Lane? (For those readers unfamiliar with the area I can confirm that it is, as the name implies, merely a lane).
2 Despite what Simms and Woods claim in the planning proposal, the proposed (and only) access down Chapel Lane is, at its narrowest points, a mere four metres wide. Five houses abut directly onto the lane. To suggest permitting even more traffic to use the lane than already does so (mainly Simms and Woods vehicles) is unthinkable.
3 The only way to widen the lane would be to buy land (a steep embankment) from British Rail. But even if they would sell, which is highly unlikely, who would pay for the land?
4 The plans show screening in some areas, apparently on British Rail land - have BR given their permission? I doubt it.
5 Who will pay for the playing field, play area, countryside walkways and a new village hall complete with changing and toilet facilities? The village hall committee have already experienced extreme difficulties raising money for the extension of the existing village hall.
6 Who will pay for the upkeep of these facilities - the village?
7 Just a mile away, we have excellent sports facilities at the Rivers Leisure Centre. Why not make full use of these facilities thereby ensuring our village stays just that - a village. If Simms and Woods want to leave a legacy by which they will be fondly remembered perhaps they would consider donating the land to the village and let the villagers to decide its fate.
8 A final thought - what's to stop Simms and Woods obtaining planning permission and then selling the land on to another developer whose interests in the village may not even extend to those of our current, albeit unlikely, benefactor.
It is hoped that Wychavon District Council and Wyre Parish Council have the best interests of all the village, including the residents of Chapel Lane (who have been the forgotten people of the village for nearly two decades) uppermost in their minds when considering Simms and Woods application.
ROBERT ADDIS, Church Street, Wyre Piddle.
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