Residents group forms in opposition to continued development in Ashford Hill
A residents group has formed in opposition to further housing being built in Ashford Hill, a small village that has been the site of frequent development over the past couple of years.
Ashford Hill used to contain around 100 homes, but 35 more were added in 2016 and a further 27 houses are currently being built on the south side of Ashford Hill Road.
There are two planning applications to build more housing in the village that are under appeal at present; one for 47 homes and another for 36.
If both were granted, the number of homes in Ashford Hill would have increased by 145 per cent in less than a decade.
Residents Against Ashford Hill Development (RAAD) has launched a fundraiser to gain some financial help in their fight against continued residential development in the village.
The group, headed by Patrick Taylor and Melissa Tayabali, is seeking money to carry out an independent traffic survey and an independent environmental impact survey, as well as make contributions towards the fees of a planning consultant it is working with.
RAAD’s key concerns are the lack of public transport in the village and the negative effect increased housing could have on local infrastructure, particularly sewage and drainage.
A statement from the group said: “These developments are not sustainable as there is no public transport within the village so every household will have to use a car to go anywhere.
“In addition, we have major concerns about the sewage run off into the river if additional houses were built as drainage is already a major problem within the village.
“To date we have been funded purely by two generous local residents but we now need to raise money for an independent traffic survey and environmental survey to support our case at the appeal hearings which are in October for the first appeal and the second appeal date is likely to be in November.
“We are working with a local planning consultant who believes that we have a strong case to oppose these developments but we really need financial support from local residents now please.
“Any donation, however small, will be hugely useful and will also spur us on to keep fighting.”
The fundraiser can be viewed on the GoFundMe website at http://rb.gy/du8jr
The group has already raised £2,350 of its £5,000 target.
Donor Peter Cunningham said: “We love our village and wish to protect it against unsustainable development.
“If we lose the greenbelt fields or damage the SSSI (site of special scientific interest) environment, then the whole village suffers an irretrievable loss.
“Once it's gone, it's gone. Let's not let that happen.”
Fellow donor Julian Sunley commented: “Lots of work has already gone into this cause by just a few.
“Following on from the strength of feeling held by local residents, demonstrated not just at the previous village meeting but also in follow up signed support for RAAD, I hope this can be furthered with some financial support to continue the fight to keep our village from growing out of proportion.”
