PLANS to build 10 new affordable homes in St Florence were narrowly approved last week.

The application from Uzmaston Projects Ltd came back before the planning committee on Tuesday (July 28), having been deferred at the June meeting for a site visit.

Officers recommended that the proposal to build six bungalows and four flats on land adjoining Woodland Close be approved, despite an objection from St Florence Community Council and 14 representations from local residents.

Speaking on behalf of his constituents was Councillor Phil Kidney. He thanked members for attending the site visit, but expressed disappointment that they were not able to view the proposed development from the back of Longstone.

He said: “A local landowner told me I was silly for backing the residents of Longstone, but I am doing what I think is right.

"It would be very easy for me to back this development as I once worked for the landowner’s family, but that’s not why I signed up to be a county councillor, I want to represent all constituents.”

Longstone resident Sally Starr also addressed the committee.

She said: “I moved into the village 11 years ago and did so purposely because it was a nice and quiet, safe village.

“We didn’t object to the first phase of houses because we put our faith in the council to make sure that we were protected from harm. It was a terrible experience, there was noise, disruption and dirt, but we allowed it to go on because we knew there was a housing need.

“Had we known this was just phase one, we would have objected.”

During the debate, Cllr Tony Wilcox described the site visit as “bordering on farce.”

He said: “We arrived at 11 o’clock and by twenty past we were ushered back into the mini bus."

He added: “This is the wrong development on the wrong site.”

Cllr Tony Brinsden said: “This council took a number of years to sort the Local Development Plan (LDP). This development appears to be going outside of it, which is something I don’t quite understand, especially when there are other sites in the village.

“What is to stop when this is finished a further attachment, and then another? If we approve this we’re going down a very slippery slope.”

Cllr Jacob Williams said: “I have to be honest with the objectors; I don’t think their grounds are particularly strong.

“I say this because they talk about suffering if this should go ahead due to noise and pollution, but this isn’t a shanty town that we’re going to be building; it’s an extension of a development.”

Warning of incurring appeal fees, Cllr Brian Hall moved the recommendation for approval. Seven councillors voted in favour of approval, and seven against. The deciding vote went to the chairman, Cllr Myles Pepper who was in favour of approval.