Housing and sports ground plan in Kempsford set to go ahead (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting WGS NEWS to 80360, or email
us
Housing and sports ground plan in Kempsford set to go ahead
5:00pm Sunday 17th February 2013 in Cotswolds news By George Wright
PLANS for a sports ground and 29 new homes in Kempsford took one step closer to becoming a reality on Wednesday.
Members of Cotswold District Council planning committee supported the development but deferred the case while plans regarding the future maintenance of the sports field, the car park and the housing are finalised.
Speaking after the vote, ward councillor Sandra Carter said she was delighted with the result.
“It’s great news for the locals that we’re taking it to the next level and all round it’s a good day for local democracy,” she said.
Cllr Carter spoke of the local support at the hearing, saying, “This application is led by the community and there is so much to be gained by the sports facilities that are so lacking at the moment.”
“Whatever the qualifications are for sustainability, Kempsford today needs more,” she said.
Developer Peter Mapson said he was “delighted” with the decision.
“It’s been a very good day for localism as there has been such local support and members have listened to it which is great.”
The plans include a 42-space car park for the sports centre will offer younger members of the community somewhere to gather.
The car park will also help relieve dangerous congestion on the road outside the primary school.
The housing, which will include 11 affordable homes, will offer young people more opportunity to buy property in the village.
There were some concerns from a small number of residents that the development will change the character of the village and add more pressure to local services and drains and the scheme had been recommended for refusal by planning officers.
However, members of the planning committee supported the scheme. Planning officers have now been told to seek an agreement between the developer and CDC regarding future maintenance of the facilities before allowing planning permission.
