Statement re. Planning Application for 66 Houses on Jawbone Lane by Cllr Matthew Gotheridge, District Councillor for Melbourne.
PLANNING DECIDED
Last Night I attended the South Derbyshire District Council Planning Committee where the application for up to 66 homes on land off Jawbone Lane, Melbourne was approved.
I want to be open with everyone… I spoke strongly AGAINST this application, and I was the only councillor on the committee to vote against it, so as a result it has been APPROVED.
Melbourne is a special place, and I care deeply about protecting what makes it so. In my speech, I made it clear that we all understand that new homes are needed, but planning for homes does not mean saying yes to every proposal that comes forward.
I argued that this development is not in the right place. The site is open countryside on the edge of Melbourne which helps maintain a clear break between Melbourne and Kings Newton. As I said during the meeting, once countryside is built on, it is gone for good.
I also fought to highlight the real concerns many of you have shared with me about Jawbone Lane itself, a narrow rural road with its own challenges and whether it can truly cope with the increased traffic.
I did not hold back in representing residents views, and I made clear that the possibility of an appeal should not frighten us into approving something we believe is wrong.
Most importantly, I spoke about what this land means to our community: the fields around the village are not empty land waiting to be filled with houses they are part of the character of the area.
I also received a statement to read out from County Councillor Charlotte Hill, but still unfortunately the committee still went in favour.
I know how strongly many of you feel about this, and I want you to know I stood up and made those arguments as clearly and firmly as I could.
While I respect the decision that was made, I could not support this application and I was not prepared to vote for something I believe is wrong for Melbourne.
