Councillors are to carry out a site visit today (Wednesday) before deciding on plans to build ten new affordable homes in St Florence.

The application, which sought permission for six bungalows and four flats on land adjoining Woodland Close, was discussed by the County Council’s planning committee last month and was recommended for conditional approval.

Addressing the committee, Councillor Phillip Kidney said: “The application gives absolutely no regard to the existing residents. They hardly get a mention in the report and they deserve a lot better. I would urge you to vote against this proposal, the residents of St Florence don’t want the character and atmosphere to change.”

Alan Eardley from St Florence Community Council, said: “We are unanimously against approval and wish to express our support to the local resident’s objections.”

Instead he suggested other sites which would be more suitable for the development.

He added: “The major concern that we’ve got is on the road safety issues, particularly for the children. I wouldn’t like to have the responsibility for approving an accident waiting to happen.”

Belinda Goslin also spoke at the meeting on behalf of concerned local residents.

She said: “The proposed development is basically an extension to an existing development of 14 affordable houses in the village that was completed last year. That development was built on greenfield land as an exception site for affordable housing, but not opposed as it had been identified as an alternative site during the public consultation process of the Local Development Plan and there was a recognised local need for affordable housing.

“In this instance there is no identified local need and it is on a greenfield site outside the LDP and not one of the five alternative sites still available in the village.”

She added: “The specific concerns of this are in regard to the significant impact on community and highway safety, the loss of amenity of existing residents and the existence of alternative sites for affordable housing. In addition, approval of this application would set a precedent for any greenfield site can be built on in the name of ‘an exception site for affordable housing’."

During the debate, Cllr Jacob Williams said: “I’ve heard what the objectors say and I don’t really think they are particularly strong objections unfortunately.

“The issue of other land being available isn’t really a matter for this committee, the ownership of the land isn’t something we can have any control over, it may be that the land is owned by people who don’t wish to develop it.“I did have some sympathy with the traffic concerns, but as this is only outline planning, the issues would be dealt with in the detail stage.”

Councillor Peter Morgan’s proposed a site visit which was backed by all. Councillors will visit St Florence today, July 22.