Published: Wednesday, 25th June, 2008 12:00
Protest group's 'two years of blight' warning
By James Kell
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WOODLEY faces ‘two years of blight’ if a development at Sandford Farm goes ahead.
That is the warning from Loddon Valley Action Group, which met on Tuesday to respond to outline plans for 500 homes on the former landfill site submitted last week.
LVAG chairman David Parker said: “This application for outline planning permission carries with it a two-year sentence of a major on-site industrial plant working to clean up the 300,000 cubic metres of largely unidentified, probably toxic, waste that lies beneath.
"Waste will be dug up and processed on site. That means hours of excavation, loading, sifting and sorting, all within yards of Woodley homes and families. The potential for exposure to unpleasant smells, flies and vermin is huge. No-one is certain what’s buried there.”
Proposals submitted by public relations consultants Green Issues, on behalf of Woodley Developments Ltd, also include an upgrade of surrounding road junctions at the developers’ expense, including the Bader Way/A329(M) junction, as well as a multi-use games area.
Woodley Developments will make ‘substantial contributions’ to expand local schools.
Senior account manager at Green Issues, Richard Royal said: “The developer has made significant improvements to the original plans which now contain increased community benefits, including retail and leisure facilities.
"We have met a range of stakeholders over the past few months, including councillors, the local NHS primary care trust and Age Concern.”
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