Devlopers win while the local people of Anstey are ignored!

Charnwood Forest is a distinctive area of upland landscape towards the north-west of Leicestershire close to the edge of the City of Leicester. It is valued for its international geological importance, rich biodiversity, landscape beauty, historical importance, and recreational role. Over recent years the developers have been lining up to potentially destroy this area of countryside and farmland.

Near to the edge of the area is the large village of Anstey, about a mile and a bit north of the junction of A5630 with the A46 which skirts the north of Leicester. The village is known the Gateway to Charnwood Forest and goes back before the days of the Domesday Book. Currently the village has a population of around 5,800 and boasts two village greens and several pubs, shops and number of small cafes.

Back at the end of November 2013, Marrons Planning put a planning application in for 65 homes in a greenfield site at the edge of the village for someone named, unhelpfully, as Mrs A.Green. One of many such plans in the area which threaten to damage the countryside with the building in well in excess of 4000 homes near Charnwood Forest the and spoil the enjoyment of many that visit the area from the nearby city of Leicester.

According to press reports about local people 800 objected to the development, fearing that extra vehicles would bring traffic chaos to nearby roads and village shopping area.  Justified when you think many of the people moving into the homes will have to work in Leicester if they want to find jobs, as many of the industry which cause the village of Anstery grow has over the years has disappeared, and they will have to travel through the village.

Marrons the agents for the developer claims "The area proposed for development holds limited nature conservation value and little habitat diversity." It would seem that once work starts a there will be a payment of £3,800 towards library improvements, another £27,655 to refurbish part of Anstey surgery and £29,000 to cover the cost of extra policing. Although £29,000 not going to cover much of the cost of policing over the lifetime of the estate. The later are an example of some of the sort bribes allowed under planning legislation in England.

Marrons Planning is a company that one of it clients describes as being assertive with planning officers a approach I'm sure they are good at from the testimonials on their website. Clearly they have done a good job on winning round Charnwood Borough Council and got the development approved despite the local objections to the scheme, even if developers have solve the traffic problems the development will cause.

There is a lot wrong in all this including building on greenfield sites, but worse is that the local opposition to this development was clearly very vocal, and it appears that the Charnwood Borough Council has gone against the wishes of people that voted them into power and sided with the developers. I just hope that people Anstey show their disapproval when it comes to the next local election and boots out of office the councilors that approved the plans. They don't deserve to be looking after peoples interests if they don't listen to them.