Radstock Town Council’s public gallery area was full on Monday evening as residents from Whitelands and Tyning packed into the Methodist Church Hall to voice their objections to outline plans to build up to 55 homes on the site of the old Tyning Colliery.
The application has gone back and forth for some time now and Whitelands residents have been vocal about keeping their green space protected, with many speaking out about the application on Monday. Concerns include the loss of green space, more traffic, parking, sewage concerns and structural issues.
Cllr Bruce Shearn recalled memories of miners moving into the temporary accommodation that was built for workers whilst Council houses were being built, as a boy of thirteen. He said: “When the temporary accommodation was due to come down, there was a codicil on the land which stipulated it should go back to what it was – a football field and play area. In 1974/1975, the coal board wanted to sell and sold it to a local man who has been trying to develop this space ever since.
“This land belongs to the people of Whitelands. If B&NES allow this to go ahead, it would set a trend, with fifty houses on a one track road making way for more. I’ve always been in favour of building on brownfield sites, but this is greenfield.”
Cllr Chris Dando added: “This is clearly an emotive issue. I was absolutely astonished when B&NES turned this down as a green space, and I don’t believe officers gave it enough consideration. This is the wrong application in the wrong place and something needs to be done to protect it.”
A spokesperson for the applicant appealed to residents at the meeting to be more positive. She said: “There are ongoing parking issues in this area that can only be resolved through this application. There is the potential to link through with Woodborough Lane and lots of elements that can be addressed.
“What’s obvious is that the residents of Whitelands really care. This is a brownfield site that needs developing and I can appreciate that an application like this will raise emotions. But we want residents to be involved. The space could be used for the community and education. It’s easy to focus on the negatives, but shortsighted not to look at the opportunities as well.”
B&NES Council is still accepting comments on this application, which can be found at: www.bathnes.gov.uk/planning under the number 16/04063/OUT A decision is expected around 12th November 2016.
Radstock Town Council voted unanimously to object to the proposal, which will be passed on to B&NES.
In other planning news, the Town Council voted to support an application to convert the Mirage Inks building at Coombend, a former colliery winding house in the town, into two residential blocks of eight two bed flats and six one bed flats, with parking and landscaping. Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Chris Dando said: “On balance, I think it will be beneficial to Coombend, we lost the argument about employment use on this site a long time ago.”
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