CAMPAIGNERS fighting to prevent housing on land bordering Tiddesley Wood nature reserve have urged town residents to make their voices heard at a public meeting on the proposals.
Members of the Protecting Pershore’s Woodland group will be among those on hand at the meeting tonight (Tuesday) from 6.30pm at Pershore Library.
The group has launched an impassioned plea for town councillors to add their voices to the fight to protect the 6,000-year-old woodland.
Campaigners have delivered a leaflet outlining the proposals to all the houses in Pershore and some of the surrounding villages.
Despite numerous attempts being rejected by planners to build on the existing dwelling on Orchard Farm, Defford Road over the past 13 years, the site is now earmarked in the SWDP for a residential estate of 450 houses combined with neighbouring fields which run from Holloway along the top of existing developments in Three Springs Road down to Tiddesley Wood creating a total of 552 new homes for Pershore.
More than 120 people packed into Pershore Football Club earlier this month for a workshop exploring the new SWDP housing proposals for the town.
The evening was organised by Pershore’s three district councillors – Dan Boatright, Carolyn Harford and Charles Tucker.
Coun Tucker said: “We were amazed at the response, which shows how much Pershore people care about their town.
“The biggest issue of course was the plan for 450 houses near to Tiddesley Wood, an ancient woodland and Site of Special Scientific Interest.”
“People just couldn’t believe that the council would put this national gem in jeopardy through inappropriate housing.
“The increased human pressure could threaten the whole character of the wood and it’s scientific value.”
“This site is in no way sustainable – it’s over a mile from the Town Centre and two miles from the railway station.
“Better sites exist, which have not been allocated for any housing. We will be pressing Wychavon to think again.”
Visit www.swdevelopmentplan.org, e-mail [email protected] or post comments to South Worcestershire Development Plan, Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Pershore, WR10 1PT by 5pm on Monday, December 16.
