RESIDENTS say they are heartbroken after plans to build 131 homes and 5,000m² of offices behind the Alexandra Hospital were given the green light.
Councillors gave the development off Nine Days Lane the thumbs up on Wednesday (October 12) despite strong calls for permission to be refused.
The application was approved seven to two and delegated to the head of planning and regeneration to grant subject to conditions.
Resident Julie Parry, spoke of her concerns for the safety of those living on Nine Days Lane, the only access route, where the developers plan to change right of way priority on the junction. She said the road was extremely dangerous and the development would make the area a ‘potential death trap’.
She added: “If you approve such a T-junction, and there are accidents, you have to be able to live with your consciences.
“ As a mum the safety of my children is paramount. It is hard enough to go down the hill and navigate the bend, without having to stop and give way to residents from the right.”
After the decision was made she added: “My fellow residents and I were very disappointed.
“It felt all along that the development was a ‘done deal’ and the way they flatly ignored all our comments, and indeed the flood of objections on the planning website over the weekend, shows what little regard the developers, planning department and councillors have for local residents opinions.
“We were especially disgusted with Councillor Andrew Fry (Lab, Lodge Park), chair, for his insensitive comment that he approved the new junction unless it could be proved in future that it does not work, to which Coun Michael Chalk (Con, Abbey) was seen to mutter ‘but it’s too late then’.”
Another resident, Andy Beardshaw, argued that the employment space would dominate the area over the Alexandra Hospital and parking would be made worse by the additional 400 cars which could expected from the staff and new residents.
Sian Griffiths, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said, according to their research, there had been no accidents on the road in the last five years, which was met with laughter and protests from the public gallery.
She added “This scheme is very much in the right place. These proposals are a positive gain for the committee and for Redditch.”
Coun Roger Bennett (Con, Headless Cross & Oakenshaw) said: “I think this application should be rejected until we can come up with a better design for traffic flow.
“We need to investigate the discrepancy with what the residents are saying in regards to accidents in the area and what the applicant’s report states.”
However Coun Fry said: “Most people agree this land should be built on. There is still work to be done on this and I am not totally happy with the junction towards Nine Days Lane. It does get very icy but I am willing to go along with what has been said.”
