News 'Prepared to build anywhere?
Goole residents are in uproar over the potential flood risk that a new housing development could cause as work begins this week.
Essential work to lay the foundations of 54 houses at the new Reubens Reach housing development off Bretton Avenue in Goole is set to begin this month, causing residents distress as they not only anticipate six months of noise pollution, but worry about the potential flooding risk.
Paul Thompson, a resident in nearby Montrose Drive, told the Goole Times that the proposed development is next to the Fairfield Estate, which floods whenever it rains heavily. He fears flooding could become a regular occurrence as drainage systems struggle to cope with more than 50 new houses.
Mr Thompson said: "Residents are concerned that the whole area will be flooded once the houses go up. The development is totally inappropriate as a whole, and now it looks like we will be living next to a building site for the next six month whilst piling work is carried out.
"The site is next to Sandhall Park Residential Home and bordered to the east by bungalows for the elderly. Laying the foundations will take place from March to September, making life hell for all residents but particularly for the elderly at the Sandhall Park Residential Home and the nearby bungalows."
Goole Town councillor Kester Dean this week agreed with Mr Thompson, adding: "Goole Town Council objected to the application as it is a site which is very, very wet and prone to flooding. That's why it has previously been left over.
"The site is well vegetated and I think a lot of residents were concerned about the destruction of trees on the site. The land here was left for a reason but with house prices now rising, people are prepared to build anywhere. This is an inappropriate site."
Mr Thompson claimed that the Environment Agency submitted an objection to the application on the grounds that the area is prone to flooding. He is outraged that the plans have still been passed.
But a spokesperson for East Riding of Yorkshire Council insisted that all issues with the application were resolved before approval was granted.
The spokesperson said: "The Environment Agency had no objection to the development, under the condition that each house had a floor level that was a minimum of three metres above sea level."
A spokesperson for Ben Bailey Homes added: "Ben Bailey Homes has been through the full planning procedure with regards to the development and full planning permission has been granted.
"All of the necessary precautions have been taken and the properties will be built accordingly."
Published on 8th March 2007 in News.
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Comments
Posted by Maggie Lynch at 11:48:59 on 28 March 2007
I too live on the other side of the road from a recently built development where there were objections as the site was known as floodplains. Over the last 12 months my land including a conservation area wood is under a minimum of 12 inches of water but as yet no one wants to investigate the possbility that the building of the development may have contributed to, if not caused the problem. If they will not investigate how will we learn whether or not it has or not contributed. I am told it is my land and my problem regardless of the fact that it had never been known to flood in the past. All comments and any assistance would be welcome.
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