BUILDING 155 homes near Anne Hathaway’s cottage in Shottery will only worsen the existing speeding problem in the area.
So says councillor Peter Moorse, who is concerned about plans for Gladman Developments to build on land north of Evesham Road.
The site is near where 800 homes were granted back in 2012 after government minister Eric Pickles overturned Stratford District Council’s decision to reject the proposals.
And although a council conservation consultant admitted the development would cause harm to the setting, they said it was not substantial enough to justify a refusal of planning permission.
Officers had recommended the proposals be given the green light by Stratford District Council’s planning committee at a meeting last month, but members opted to carry out a site visit next week before making a final decision.
Warwickshire County Council’s analysis of accident data revealed only ‘minimal impact on road safety’ but Coun Moorse fears building the houses could backfire and lead to more residents speeding in the area.
Along with town councillor Charles Bates, Coun Moorse carried out a traffic survey at the bottom of Bordon Hill, which showed more than half the vehicles leaving town were already speeding at the bottom of the hill.
He said: “We checked the traffic against the speed monitor sign, which flashes a warning when vehicles exceed the 40mph speed limit and from 155 vehicles, 83 – over half – were already above the speed limit shortly after starting to climb the hill.
“The monitor at the top of the hill was not working but vehicles appeared to be even faster coming down the hill.
“Pouring traffic from 155 houses out into this stream of vehicles seems to be asking for trouble.”
Following the site visit, the application is set to be considered on Wednesday evening (June 3).
