ESSEX: Housing development gets 'Public backing'

A REPLACEMENT housing block to be built in Leaden Roding has been given the go-ahead by planners who believe they have the backing of the local community. Five bungalows will be constructed on Holloway Crescent after a committee passed the plans at a meet

A REPLACEMENT housing block to be built in Leaden Roding has been given the go-ahead by planners who believe they have the backing of the local community.

Five bungalows will be constructed on Holloway Crescent after a committee passed the plans at a meeting last Wednesday.

It paves the way for a complete revamp of a whole area of the village centre with five bungalows replacing five old ones and, in turn, a vacant sheltered housing block nearby can be either refurbished or replaced.

However, some residents still have major concerns over a lack of parking and some feel that the council's consultation on the plans has been "non-existent".

Parking concerns have been echoed by the parish council which released a statement saying: "We have strong concerns regarding lack of parking provision in the area, where residents already struggle to find parking spaces."

Before agreeing the planning permission though Uttlesford councillors ensured that new parking spaces will be provided, possibly in the form of lay-bys.

It was also stated that a consultation scheme was carried out and the indications from the public were in favour of the scheme.

But villager Rod Blacklock spoke angrily at the meeting and said: "Many of us feel like the consultation process has been non-existent - only the people living in the five bungalows have really been asked about the scheme.

"Parking needs to be sorted before anything else. You cannot park a bike around there, let alone a car."

After the meeting and the planning permission was granted, he added: "It just feels like the decision had already been made."

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