MEMBERS of the public presented a united front at Studley Parish Council this week when they stood shoulder-to-shoulder against a planning application that is ‘not needed and not wanted’ in the village.
No less than 17 residents attended the meeting on Tuesday (July 21) to oppose the proposal, submitted by property developer David Bush, who is also a Redditch borough councillor, which aims to demolish existing shops and offices on Manor Road.
The amended application, which was originally for three two-bedroom two-storey homes, will see an apartment block built on the site, consisiting of six one-bedroom apartments with parking and garden to the rear.
“It was a brilliant turnout,” said Sue Werner, who presented a report opposing the application during the meeting. “I was very pleased with the strong numbers and it just shows the feeling against the amended proposal.”
Her call to object to the proposed changes was met with resounding agreement from parish councillors – one of whom referred to the flats as ‘rabbit hutches’.
“Nowhere else in the village is there such an intensively developed site,” said Mrs Werner.
In an unanimous decision, chairman Coun Paul Beaman confirmed the parish council would object to the plans, based on a number of factors including overdevelopment, the lack of enhancement or respect towards the listed building adjacent to the site and the understanding that the development would be detrimental to the street scene.
Coun Beaman added the plans were totally devoid of any thought and he would be happy to represent the parish and their views on the matter at Stratford-Upon-Avon District Council.
