Harwich: Outrage over new bid for housing

8:09am Friday 16th May 2008

Comments (6)   Have your say »

A community is in uproar over proposals to build 30 homes.

Scores of residents turned up at a public meeting in the Methodist Church Hall, in Garland Road, Parkeston, to discuss the controversial plans.

An application for 30 houses on land behind Edward Street and Una Road in Parkeston was submitted to Tendring Council in February.

During the meeting, organised by the parish council, residents spoke out about the latest proposals.

Nigel Taylor, 37, of Una Road, said: "I'm worried because of the traffic and the lack of infrastructure, such as schools and jobs, in the Harwich area.

Sid Worley, of Edwards Street, said he felt annoyed and angry with the latest application by Barratt Eastern Counties.

He said: "Each time the council refuses it, they stick in another application.

"As far as I'm concerned, it should be enough is enough' - but there's no stopping these developers from constantly putting in the applications."

Concerns were also raised over the safety of the site and the risks associated with having residential properties so close to the nearby Carless oil refinery.

Dave Kirkman, chairman of the Parkeston Environmental Group, said: "Everyone knows that if anything happened in that factory, God knows what would happen to the people in Parkeston, let alone the people in the new houses, who will be even closer."

If the plans get the go ahead there will be 22 three-bedroom homes, four two-bedroom homes and four four-bedroom homes built on the site.