Despite earlier rejection by its own Development Control committee in August 2000 and November 2002, Milton Keynes Council submitted not only a third application 02/01758/MKCOD3 for housing to the south of Wilton Avenue with an exit on Church Green Road to the same committee but has also initiated a fourth and a fifth. It is understood that the third application has more houses with 20 approached from the exit on Church Green Road and another 30 approached through the former college site on Sherwood Drive although the traffic survey for this site does not consider this. The fourth application is for 50 houses overall with 35 accessing Church Green Road and has been submitted by a developer at the instigation of council officers. Private developers can appeal whereas the council cannot appeal against its own decisions. The fifth application is by the council's estates department and evisages all 50 houses exiting on to Church Green Road through the conservation area.
As expected at the site meeting the MKC Development Control committee will reject all three applications
The previous application was 00/00756/MKCOD3. A second petition was presented and a meeting of residents was held on Thursday 8 th. November 2001. Chris Simpson, Chairman of the residents association once more presented the petition and spoke to the Milton Keynes Development Control committee on Wednesday 14 th. November.
It is understood that Council Land comprising this site is to be sold by Taylor Estate Agents and that Tay homes are the preferred bidder. The plot is expected to realise more than two million pounds. The development would have consisted of 40 houses. As far as Milton Keynes Estates Department is concerned this is purely commercial transaction. The profit to the Council would be substantially reduced if it had to pay Milton Keynes College for access to Sherwood Drive. To maximise its profit by utilising an alternative exit, the Estates Department was prepared to cut through the conservation area into Church Green Road and create a potential traffic blackspot. Milton Keynes Council has a policy of low cost housing as a proportion of all significant new development. Cllr Long implied that opposition to the scheme is obstructing low-cost housing. Cllr Long was at that time the Milton Keynes Council 'cabinet member' responsible for finance.
The Development Control Committee at its meeting on 23rd August 2000 heeded the views of Resident's Association members and other local residents. Chris Simpson presented a petition to the Committee opposing access to Church Green Road for proposed housing off Wilton Avenue. This had been collected by Roger Wyatt and Stuart Forrester. Keith Woodward (an Association member and a Neighbourhood Councillor) had spoken on the subject at a previous DCC Meeting.
Denbigh Councillor Mick Legg and Councillor Roger Bristow
had visited the proposed access point and agreed that it was quite unsuitable.
The planning application was deferred and referred back to the Estates
Department. to negotiate with the College about access to Sherwood Drive
from the site. It was also agreed that the effect on the area of all planned
developments in West Bletchley should be considered. A Framework
Document for Bletchley Park as a whole has twice been referred back
for further detail by the Development Control Committee.
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