Council’s flats plan has residents riled

Residents have criticised Newark and Sherwood District Council over plans to build four flats on land in the middle of their road.

People living on Meldrum Crescent, Newark, are concerned about the loss of views from their homes and loss of the grassed area.

They are also concerned about a potential increase in vehicles parking on Meldrum Crescent and an apparent lack of consultation over the proposal.

Twelve parking spaces, some of which would be allocated for existing residents, would be created if the development gets the go-ahead.

Resident Mr Steven White said the site, known as The Green, was a popular place for children to play, especially in the summer.

“If it’s not girls playing with skipping ropes, it’s boys playing football,” he said.

“A lot of the kids on the estate can’t afford gym membership or take part in clubs or classes and by removing green spaces thecouncil would be removing somewhere they can play for free.”

Children may have to play in street

Mr White said parking provision had reduced because Newark and Sherwood Homes had demolished garages elsewhere on Meldrum Crescent to make way for eight flats.

“By building more homes on there it’s going to increase the traffic flow,” he said.

“If there are problems now, what is it going to look like when there are eight flats at the end of the crescent and more flats in the middle?”

Mr White said children may have to play in the street, which would be an accident waiting to happen.

Residents said they knew nothing about the proposal until reading about it in the Advertiser.

Mrs Helen Howell, who has lived in the street for 47 years, said: “The kids have always used the green to play on.

“I have had three children and five grandchildren and all of them played football there.

“It would be a nightmare to see these flats built and it would be chaos.”

Mrs Nikki Rainbow said: “It is going to make the parking situation worse.

“I used to let people park on my garden but that has been churned up. It’s a nightmare.”

'It's disgraceful'

Mrs Lena Swanston said residents on neighbouring streets were consulted about the proposal, but not those living on Meldrum Crescent.

“It’s disgraceful,” she said.

The district council has submitted the application and, as the planning authority, will consider it for approval.

A spokesman for the council said: “This area of unutilised land has been earmarked for development to deliver new council homes in Hawtonville to help meet the growing need for affordable housing locally.

“The planning application proposed for this site provides four one-bed apartments and incorporates 12 parking spaces.

“The remainder of the land will be maintained as a landscaped amenity space for local residents.

“In considering the proposals, the officers will need to consider any loss of open space against the relevant policies within the [council’s] development plan.

“Other material planning considerations include the potential impact on the character of the area and the impact on neighbouring amenity.

“Consultation has also been carried out with the highway authority for advice on the level of parking and whether there are likely to be any impacts on highway safety.

“Several properties facing the application site on Meldrum Crescent have been consulted by letter and the application has also been advertised by site notice and, therefore, consultation in accordance with the publication requirements within planning legislation for advertising planning applications has been carried out.

“Anyone wishing to comment on the application is welcome to submit comments to the local planning authority for consideration prior to a decision being made.”