Ledbury Focus November 2019 Ledbury Focus November 2019 v3 | Page 53
Ledbury Civic Society
L
edbury Civic Society looks at all Planning
Applications for new building in Ledbury and
the surrounding area; if we have a view we
comment on them favourably or negatively – as
is everyone’s right – and we try to make others
aware of major proposals. The physical character
of the towns, villages and countryside around us
is changing at a tremendous rate and not everyone
is aware of its extent. We regard some of the huge
schemes for new houses in Ledbury as very
damaging indeed.
The population of Ledbury is about 10,000 and this,
under present approved plans for 1,250 new homes,
will rise to 14,000 in the next few years. The planned
population increase will add greatly to the pressure
on schools, medical and social services, transport
and parking, and exacerbate water, power supply,
sewage and drainage issues. More houses will add
even more pressure.
The ‘clogging up’ of the town is of no concern to
property developers, neither are they interested in
providing the kind of new homes that the young
could afford, nor any sports or social facilities. There are
few jobs in Ledbury and not many across Herefordshire
but commercial house builders rely on local govern-
ment and local enterprise to sort out the problems
they cause by building the wrong kind of houses in the
wrong locations without creating any sustainable
new employment.
The several commercial proposals for nearly 1,000
additional houses South of Leadon way, between
the Gloucester and Dymock Roads, are very worrying.
321 houses are presently under construction by
Barratts; developers are currently campaigning to be
allowed to build the rest. We think there is no call at
all for all these houses, that they are the wrong type
in the wrong place being too far from town and
lacking any amenities to enable new communities
to generate.
Local people can make a difference by making their
views heard; anyone can comment on planning
applications. There are currently four ‘live’ applications.
To learn more, please visit the Hereford Council
Planning applications website and look at the
following reference numbers:
Bovis (140 houses) ref: P192482/0
Gladman (420 houses) ref: P184032/0
Gladman (again 210 houses) ref: P184447/0
Bloor (625 houses) ref: P171532/0
It’s your town; we all need to be awake and to
respond to big rich companies that want to make
money for themselves and landowners irrespective
of housing needs and the hopes and desires of the
community.
article by Anthony Peake and Nicola Forde
members of the Planning Committee of
Ledbury and District Civic Society
The Burgage Hall, Church Lane
Ledbury, HR8 1DW
A J Roberts Farm & Garden Services
T: 07841 756911
or 01531 248311
E: [email protected]
Ledbury Focus
• Domesc & Commercial Grass Cung • Hedge Trimming
• Fencing Of All Types • Tree Surgery • Firewood For Sale
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• 100170HP Tractor & Driver For Hire
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