A LEADING Pershore councillor has slammed a proposed development which would have eroded the ‘green open landscape’ of a popular town park.
Speaking during a meeting which saw planning chiefs throw out an application for a two-storey, two-bedroom house to be built next door to 12 Priors Walk, Coun Val Wood called for Abbey Park to be ‘protected not eroded’.
Although in their report planning officers said the new build would not affect the grass verges and open space along Priors Walk, concerns were raised by all three of Pershore’s councillors that the house would damage the ‘local distinctiveness’ of the area.
Both Pershore Town Council and Pershore Civic Society also objected to the proposals on the grounds the house would have been ‘out of keeping’ with the area.
Speaking at the meeting last Thursday (February 9), Coun Wood said: “This proposal represents cramped development, which is not of high quality and will impact on the distinctive street scene landscape which characterises Abbey Park.”
Former town mayor Coun Tony Rowley said: “All three Pershore ward members oppose this development, Pershore Town Council opposes this development and so does the civic society.
“The proposal will cause erosion of the green open landscape which is a design feature of this area.
“SWDP 21 states that development will be expected to be of high quality and design integrates effectively with its surrounding and reinforces local distinctiveness.
“That is the problem with this development – it doesn’t reinforce local distinctiveness. If anything, it goes against it,” he added.
Councillors voted to reject the application by eight votes to four.
