BUILDING A FUTURE FOR WYCHAVON

In Wychavon, three options have been suggested. Option one would see an extra 7,600 houses built in the district and represents a continuation of the current expected levels of growth.

Option two would see 11,600 houses built while option three would bring the most change with 14,100 new homes appearing across the district.

As part of a public consultation being held by the West Midlands Regional Assembly, Wychavon has agreed to submit a combined response with Worcester City Council and Malvern Hills supporting option two.

That response was debated at a recent meeting of Wychavon District Council's development control policy committee where councillors expressed serious reservations.

Speaking after the meeting, executive board member for planning policy and rural affairs Councillor Audrey Steel said: "We don't want it at all.

"We think there are major issues to be addressed before any future development is made in Worcestershire."

So what are the main issues?

They are infrastructure, greenfield sites and the environment.

Coun Steel said: "If any development should come into Worcestershire we want to see better road infrastructure, action on schools, hospitals and health facilities.

"The major issue is the road infrastructure. Junctions six and seven of the motorway are already choc-a-block morning and night.

"Something has to be done."

Councillors are concerned that traffic congestion around Worcester could have a knock-on affect on neighbouring towns such as Droitwich.

Council leader Martin Jennings said there were also concerns that external funding would be needed to make the scale of changes required.

He said: "There's no point even putting a brick down until we have got the infrastructure and that includes road, rail, utilities, health, everything."

Wychavon councillors are concerned that more development could ruin the district's rural make-up.

Coun Steel said: "We are saying to the regional assembly there are plenty of brownfield sites in the north of the county that are already in the approved spatial strategy and they need developing first.

"Wychavon is a greenfield district and it would like to remain that way."

On the environmental issue, she added: "Wychavon doesn't have a huge problem with a lack of jobs.

"In fact, people come into the area to work but we are already made to get into the car and travel."

She believes more people in the area would mean more forced to travel to cities such as Birmingham to seek work, directly opposing efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

Droitwich's fear for the future of local tradeA recent public meeting to discuss the impact on Droitwich attracted about 50 people keen to air their views on the plans.

Chairman of Wychavon's planning committee Richard Morris said: "People believe Droitwich has grown rapidly over the last 30 to 40 years and with that growth there is a general perception that we haven't had the growth in infrastructure."

In fact, Droitwich has nearly tripled in size over the last 40 years and Coun Morris pointed out that much of the development had taken trade away from the town centre.

He said: "Development affects where people who move into the town go for their shopping and for their entertainment. The allegiance to the town is possibly not so strong because it's as easy to go into Worcester."

Evesham's priority is a hospitalEvesham town councillors have written to the West Midlands Regional Assembly highlighting their concerns about the impact of the plans.

The letter reads: "Members were extremely concerned at the amount of extra housing proposed in options two and three and indicated a preference for option one.

"They considered it imperative that whatever option is ultimately chosen appropriate infrastructure needed to be in place before any further development is carried out and that all intrusion into the green belt should be resisted.

"As far as Evesham itself is concerned members considered that an improved or new community hospital would be a pre-requisite."