AN ACTION group opposed to large-scale housing developments in Malpas is appealing to the community for extra support.
In the past few weeks, Action For Greenfields, a pressure group set up by village residents to protest against greenfield development, has held a number of meetings to discuss ways to progress further.
And last week more than 20 villagers and parish councillors gathered in the Jubilee Hall to debate what their next move should be in opposing plans for up to 140 houses being built in the village.
The application, which has been made by property developer Gladman and would see family homes built between Chester Road and Well Street, has been described by residents as ‘monstrous’.
The group has enlisted a planning solicitor and drawn up a list of reasons why the development would be unsuitable for Malpas.
Charles Higgie, chairman of Action For Greenfields, said the group needs the backing of the village for a successful outcome.
“We are encouraging supporters to send in letters and emails or sign petitions and will be putting out a leaflet around the village,” he said.
“We’re also appealing for donations to help with the cost of hire of rooms and photocopying and have appealed to Malpas Parish Council for funding.
“There are many details of the planning application we are challenging, such as Gladman’s failure to erect notices around the field, which is a legal requirement, what they propose to do about traffic congestion and parking around both the schools.”
The group has also appealed to neighbouring parishes for help, with Cuddington and Nomansheath to consider how they can oppose the plans.
Its campaign proved successful last month when another application for seven houses to be built in the centre of Malpas was rejected.
Mr Higgie said the group’s plan had been to ‘nip it in the bud at the earliest opportunity’ to lessen the chances of Gladman’s development going ahead.
“This development will have a severe impact on the local environment relating to noise, safety and the outstanding beauty of the area in a conservation area for which there has been a complete disregard,” he said.
“Malpas is historically an agricultural village and with the loss of good agricultural land there will be a further loss of jobs in agriculture and a further reliance on commuting.”
But Martyn Twigg, Fox Strategic Land and Property project director, behind the Gladman plan, said: “There is a chronic shortage of housing in areas such as Malpas and we’re still hopeful to keep conversing with the village and parish council about this.”
To support the campaign, email actionforgreenfields@yahoo.com.
