DROITWICH councillors claim the local people have been ‘let down’ after an application for 52 houses on Newland Lane was narrowly approved by Wychavon District Council’s planning committee.
Concerns were raised about the building of any new properties adding more pressure on the infrastructure in an ‘already sprawling town’.
Coun Nicholas Wright said: “Further infrastructure needs to be thought about seriously.
“No facilities are there at the moment – not even a play area for the children.
“These developments are communities, and I think we would be letting them down.”
The vote was passed with seven councillors voting for the development, six against and one abstention.
During the Wychavon Planning Committee meeting it was highlighted that existing GPs and schools are already at capacity with not enough playing fields, community halls or connectivity to the centre of town to support more people.
Coun Richard Morris added more needed to be done to support the existing population before growing it with unrealistic infrastructure.
Councillors backed this point, suggesting it could not back developments with the required infrastructure detailed.
One of the main points of concern was the Copcut Roundabout and the Pulley Lane junction which Coun Alex Sinton labelled a ‘nightmare’.
Many felt the road would only get worst with a further increase of people – a point echoed by Coun Tony Miller who added roads around the site were poor and already struggling to deal with the current density of cars.
“If you happen to challenge the Copcut Junction at certain parts of the day, it is a wonder you do not have to pay a parking ticket.
“That junction was never put right and still hasn’t.”
He added the site was impacting the pumping station at Ladywood which was also already at capacity and he said he feared how it would cope with a growing population.
A spokesperson for Redrow said it ‘could not justify’ paying for a full community facility but added it was making relevant contributions which covered many community aspects.
An example of one of their contributions is assigning £21,000 to doctors.
