FURIOUS Malpas residents have set up an action group to oppose two proposed housing developments they fear would ‘destroy’ their village completely.
Concerns that the successful application of seven new houses built on greenfield land at Greenfields Lane could pave the way for a further 150 houses to be built by other developers has prompted villagers to form the pressure group to oppose the plans.
Scores of residents have shown their support for the Action For Greenfields group set up by villager Rachel Redshaw, whose house lies next to the proposed seven-house development, expressing concerns that Malpas could ultimately become an ‘urban sprawl’, straining already overstretched resources in the village.
And they say plans for 150 ‘high-quality family houses’ in between Chester Road and Well Street would have a ‘monstrous’ impact on the area.
Long-time Malpas resident Charles Higgie, who is a member of Action for Greenfields, said the group’s aim is to ‘nip the Greenfields proposals in the bud at the earliest opportunity’.
“We need to stop this first one going ahead so it doesn’t get to the next stage,” he said.
“If this goes ahead and they allow building on one field it’ll be very difficult to stop another one going ahead and set an alarming precedent.”
Mr Higgie has also organised a petition opposing the plans and said he got signatures of support from every house he visited.
He added: “The whole village feel so strongly about this.
“Road congestion in Malpas is an obvious problem which would only be made worse by further development, and I doubt if the schools, doctors and other services would be able to cope with such an increase, not to mention issues like drainage and sewage.
“Next thing, a large supermarket chain will want to build a massive store on a greenfield site and kill off the traditional shops in the centre of Malpas.
“It would destroy the village. We want to make the developers aware of how opposed we are to this and that if they do continue with their bid, we will make life as difficult as we possibly can for them by objecting.”
The public are invited to view proposals for the 150-house development at the Jubilee Hall onFriday, August 3 from 11 am- 2pm and Tuesday, August 21 from 5pm – 8pm.
