West Winch planning application triggers objections from residents

Plans to build two new bungalows at a site close to a filling station in West Winch have met with opposition from residents who fear the development could cause traffic safety issues.

The Motor Fuel Group (MFG) is seeking permission to demolish a redundant workshop on its land next to the Esso Filling Station on the A10 and build two three-bedroomed bungalows.

The workshop has been redundant for the last five years and the applicant says it has become run down and dangerous. It says the proposal would bring back into use a previously developed parcel of land for residential purposes.

The site on Regent Avenue is fenced off on all sides and is at present vacant. Regent Avenue is a private, narrow gravel track that serves six dwellings and it is from this lane that it is proposed the two new bungalows would gain access.

This week concerns have been raised about the effect more dwellings would have on the lane. One resident commented: "What is it with our neighbours wanting to build around us? We constantly seem to be fighting for the quiet life we moved here for.

"We're surprised this application has got this far as we believed you couldn't built so close to a petrol station, but being that it has, we object firstly on the grounds that the road they want the houses to face onto and the road they want to gain entry to the site is on is a narrow road with nowhere to turn. It comes off of a very busy 'A' road so backing onto the road wouldn't be an option either.

"Any machinery or delivery lorries if able to get down the road wouldn't be able to turn and would then block the whole road stopping not only residents from getting to and from their properties, but any emergencies vehicles from accessing these properties on Regency Avenue, which in the middle of a pandemic is a huge concern.

"Secondly there is new housing being built only two minutes down the road from here and a new caravan park, so is there really a need for more housing on this already very busy road?"

And another objector said: "Turning out of Regent Avenue is sometimes a nightmare, especially when vans are parked in the front of the garage retrieving parcels from the 24-hour lock-up facilities, making visibility somewhat restricted.

"Regent Avenue is very narrow and about150 metres long with no passing places, so allowing two bungalows and, assuming they will have cars and have deliveries, access in and out of Regent Avenue will be even more dangerous."