COUNCIL chiefs have formally approved a response opposing modifications to Worcestershire’s major housing blueprint.
Members of Evesham Town Council’s Planning Committee met on Monday (November 2) and approved a formal response to the proposed changes to the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) a blueprint of where houses can be built in the county up until 2030.
Abbey Road will see an increase in houses from 200 to 250, and future Cheltenham Road developments could increase from 400 to 500 homes if the changes get the go ahead once the consultation period ends on November 20.
Councillors supported a detailed response from the Town Council which sets out how Evesham’s roads and sewage system could not cope with a further rise in developments, as well as increased pressure on GP surgeries and schools which are already operating at above or near capacity.
During the debate Deputy Mayor Coun Alan Booth said: “We’ve got to get on with this, we’ve only got a few days left.
“We can be here all night making little remarks, but to put something together from a professional point of view has got to be a darn sight better than us arguing about little things.”
“I would like to see it thrown out of the SWDP altogether, but that’s not for us unfortunately. We’ll just have to make separate representations on that.”
Councillors were also told how the Town Clerk Stuart Carter had sought professional advice to bolster the council’s response to the planning inspector.
Coun Colin Tether backed the move and agreed that would strengthen their case.
“I certainly agree with getting professional help because they can put it into context that the Inspector will understand and respect better than we can do,” he said.
