Campaign group to meet planning chiefs

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MEMBERS of a group campaigning against major housing development in Broadway will come face to face with planning chiefs next week in a last ditch attempt to stop it.

The Save Broadway Group and the Broadway Trust have lobbied to get their objections heard by the full council on Tuesday (December 18).

The groups have been granted a three minute slot to present their concerns about what they say is unwanted and unnecessary top-down housing development being imposed upon the village.

The Save Broadway campaign was launched in October with members calling on all residents to support their pleas for another 350 homes planned for Leamington Road and Station Road to be scrapped. Up to 600 homes in total could be built in the village and surrounding area under current proposals.

Gordon Franks, chairman of the Save Broadway Group said they were prepared to go to court to stop councillors opening the floodgates to developers and ruining one of the most beautiful villages in the country.

"Our objective is to get council officials and local councillors to understand what they will be signing up for it they vote for these plans," he said.

"The process followed by Wychavon officials is flawed. They have not listened to villagers to identify future housing requirements. They are simply following Government demands to impose building allocation. In the case of Broadway the numbers will be 40 per cent above the national average."

Recently, the Save Broadway Campaign was given an unambiguous green light from villagers to do what it takes to prevent unnecessary development. Nearly 1000 people have written giving their support, while they said an on-line e-petition was gathering support from all over the world.

"We have taken the time to listen to other villages and understand what they want for their community," Mr Franks added.

"They are not against change, but they do want to hold the Government to its promise to give local people a say in what happens in their community."

Following the presentation councillors will debate the future of the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).

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