New fight on homes

Jul 16 2008 By Gurdip Thandi

PROTESTERS who fought aborted plans to build an eco-town near their homes have vowed to stand firm against a separate application for a huge housing development on the same site.

The Fradley Against Curborough Town group said the proposal by the Curborough Consortium, which could see 5,000 homes built on land near Lichfield, would be just as big a “blight” on the area.

A public meeting has been organised next month to discuss the plan.

Curborough had been on a Government shortlist of 15 as a possible site for a proposed eco-town, until the plan was withdrawn by the Consortium on July 7.

But it is now turning back to its original application, drafted before the eco-town proposal was taken on board, which has been submitted to Lichfield District Council and is going through the planning process.

No decisions are expected before October or November.

But Jackie Alderson, from the Consortium, said they had not been invited to the meeting and were happy to talk to FACT about any concerns they might have.

Richard Holloway, chairman of FACT, said: “We highlighted the fact that the Consortium had a planning application under way for a standard development of exactly the same size and impact, which would create the same blight but without any pretence at eco benefits.

“It is vital that local people know exactly what the Consortium is up to behind the scenes, so that they do not find any ‘done deals’ when the plans are fully revealed for local scrutiny. We have suspected that the Consortium has misled the community by promoting two almost identical proposals.

“The fight goes on to stop this massive development and the blight it will create for years to come.”

Ms Alderson said: “We have been talking to Lichfield District Council about this application since 1998 and then submitted the planning application when the time was right last year.”

The meeting is on August 6, at 7pm, in the Fradley Village Hall.