Shipston residents question need for more houses in town
RESIDENTS say they’re worried at the prospect of more new homes in Shipston.
Outline planning permission is being sought to build more than 30 homes on land at Hansen Farm, off Webb Road.
Many in the town are questioning how the already over-stretched infrastructure will cope.
The planning application (ref no: 24/00303/OUT) from Piper Homes, via Lone Star, proposes 34 homes, including 12 affordable ones, for over-55s.
As the Herald has reported many times, Shipston’s waste system is often overwhelmed causing sewage spills and floods.
The town has had hundreds of new homes built in recent years, which has piled more pressure onto its schools and medical services.
Others are also concerned that yet more houses being built will displace wildlife and natural habitats.
Shipston resident and emergency services worker Chloe Ostojak, who lives on Oldbutt Road, told the Herald: “Over the past few years there have been several large housing developments built towards this end of town.
“I’m struggling to see the need for more houses, when so many have already been built in Shipston and yet not sold.
“With the increase of housing, the town’s facilities are at an all-time low – the high school doesn’t have a sixth form, the hospital has been demolished, the gym is small and overcrowded, there are few parks or places for kids and teens to go, one fully-booked NHS-run dentist and a small doctors’ surgery.
“Our small and well-loved town centre cannot take the number of residents it has.”
Resident Jessica Parker commented: “The proposed access route along Webb Road is not up to an increase in traffic, if each of the new properties had two cars this would be an additional 68 vehicles a day along this road.”
She added: “There are simply not the jobs or infrastructure in place for more properties. This end of town has no amenities, the medical centre is already hugely over-subscribed and struggling, the town centre parking can’t cope, the schools are full...”
Peter Cowley, who also lives in Shipston, wrote: “…the proposed development will exacerbate existing drainage problems on the estate.”
And Greg Simmonds expressed his worries that building homes on the land would damage wildlife and impact locals who walk their dogs and enjoy the greenery.
An extraordinary meeting of Shipston Town Council planning committee took place on Tuesday evening to discuss the application.
A decision by Stratford District Council is expected in September.
