We need new drains before we build new houses

4:40pm Saturday 5th July 2008

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NEW drains and roads must be in place before thousands of new homes are built, according to a parish councillor for St Peter’s, Worcester.

Parish council chairman Ross McFarlane believes the infrastructure must be looked at before any new houses are built on the edge of the parish boundary as set out in the draft joint core strategy – a plan to address Government targets to build more than 10,000 new homes in and aroud the city by 2026, including 3,000 near St Peter’s.

Mr McFarlane said: “There is some feeling we might get more houses without the infrastructure to support them. The other thing is what is the benefit to Worcester overall? Not very much.”

Last month your Worcester News printed proposals by the South Worcestershire Joint Core Strategy group (SWJCS), a draft of which has already been approved by SWJCS partners Worcester City Council, Malvern Hills District Council and Wychavon District Council.

The report includes a proposal to release 25 hectares of employment land on the edge of St Peter’s and widen the southern link road from Junction 7 of the M5, near Whittington, along the A4440 to the roundabout with the A449.

Mr McFarlane’s comments echoed the sentiments of Worcester City Council planners who have already made it clear they want Government funding for new roads and schools before any development happens.

Mr McFarlane said he would welcome small-scale industrial development but was not in favour of “sprawling” industrial sites and felt more effort could be put into developing the city’s tourism potential.

Rev Martin Hodson, of St Peter’s Baptist Church, said: “What I have been hearing from people is there’s an infrastructure issue particularly regarding congestion.

“We’ll want to make something good of this because it’s a massive undertaking. It should be for the benefit of both those who live here and people who need new homes.”

Local resident Mark Baker, aged 49, of Bath Road, Worcester, said: “It’s the services you want before you build. You need to do something about the drainage system.”