Residents celebrate as Berry Close housing application is refused

9.18.16pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 26th Apr 2010

Dozens of residents from Great Bowden packed into the council chamber to hear the debate on the latest planning application to build houses on land off Berry Close. They were delighted when the planning committee took decided to refuse the application.

Ward councillor Phil Knowles urged the committee to support the recommendation to refuse. He said: 'Fifty-one letters of objection, a petition of 428 signatures, a standing room only public meeting in Great Bowden, and the highly respected Parish Council calling for refusal demonstrate clear opposition by the vast majority of residents. History shows that residents have fought proposals to build on this land at least as far back as 1965. The objections are based upon clear grounds for refusal and the officers' report is comprehensive."

Phil thanked the officers for the report and expressed his personal thanks to the residents of Great Bowden who had come along in such numbers to underline the strength of feeling in the village. In concluding his address to the committee, he called upon them to ensure that all grounds for refusal should be included in the recorded decision so that if the decision went to appeal then the council would have the widest possible grounds upon which to base its defence.

The move to refuse was moved by Cllr Sarah Hill and seconded by Cllr Barbara Johnson and voted through unanimously.