People living in Stoke Bardolph have come together to fight proposals to put over 300 new homes on green belt land outside the village that is at the risk of flooding.
Villagers say they are concerned that the developments will change the whole demographic and identity of the historic small village located near the River Trent.
An initial meeting to discuss the proposal of developing and allocating the land took place last Wednesday (November 23), of which 55 people attended – more than double that of regular meetings.
The village is currently made up of just over seventy houses.
The Parish Clark, Kate McCombie said: “People have been made aware of what Gedling Borough Council (GBC) are proposing, and obviously they’re very concerned about it, from the point of view of removing green belt land and building on flood areas.
“The concern is that we’re a small, rural community, and the residents want to maintain that identity, and there seems to be a pincher movement coming on from urban sprawl, which people are really concerned about it.”
Kate addded: “We have a very small number of residents, and most of them have been here a long time. There’s a particular farming character of Stoke Bardolph which is really important to people.
“There are people here who are in their eighties and have lived here all their lives. But there are also younger people, who have moved here, wanting a rural village life, and are now devastated and really worried about these plans. They’ve chosen the village because it’s a small, rural town, and now GBC are completely changing that character.
“People from Netherfield, Carlton, Gedling, come visit the village, to walk and to feel like they’re out in the countryside. Its a close-by asset for them as well.”
The villagers say they have support from the wider community against these plans like The Gedling Conservation Trust, who run Netherfield Lagoons, and both objected to the initial plans.
The strategic plan will go to cabinet on December 8, and the consultation period begins December 12, when it will seek approval.
Gedling Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth and Economy, Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth said:“Government has set a housing target for at least 7,950 homes to be built in Gedling Borough by 2038 and The Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan Preferred Approach sets out how and where these houses will be built.
“Most of the houses allocated are being built on brownfield sites across the borough, however, in order to meet the Government’s target, we have to look at other suitable sustainable locations near built up areas, such as extending the development at Teal Close.
“The Preferred Approach is due to be considered by Cabinet Members in December and if approved, will be followed by an eight-week public consultation, where residents can have their say.”
Councillors Sam Smith & Cllr Mike Adams who represent Stoke Bardolph on Gedling Borough Council said they would be working with residents to flight plans.
They said: “Like many residents across Trent Valley, in Stoke Bardolph, Gedling and Burton Joyce, we’re fed up with our precious green belt and green spaces being concreted over with yet more housing.
“We’ve all see the devastating impact this has had with causing the recent flooding in Burton Joyce. It also impacts on our infrastructure such as roads, schools and GPs. That’s without mentioning the negative environmental impact concreting over the green belt has, such as the erosion of wildlife habitat and taking away a natural environment many residents enjoy walking around.
“Labour’s housing plans include removing land from the green belt in Stoke Bardolph to make way for over 300 extra houses in an expansion of the Teal Close development as part of Gedling Borough Council’s contribution to the Greater Nottinghamshire Strategic Plan.
“Teal Close was built on a flood plain and the green belt and so is the proposed expansion sites.
“These plans will be subject to a consultation in December and we are working with our residents to fight them.
“Hands off our green belt!”
Absioulety wrong. There’s only 7 % green belt land left in the UK. There are many brown belt land areas that Gedling can build on. The green belt law reports brown belt should be built on before any consideration for greenbelt. There trying to merge a new estate into an old village, again against green belt policies. The fields they are looking at flooded out in 2020,why would you want to buy a house with potential to flooding.
There’s over 3,ooo houses built in Gedling in a mille and a half radius. Stoke lane is constantly being repaired for pot holes which evidence reports 50 percent increase over the last 2 years with the weight of heavy vehicles delivering goods into the new built units and continious people going to the units. The infrastructure is not coping well with traffic.
People love the open spaces with people coming all over to visit. Gedling won’t be happy until greenspaces have concrete on them .People need green spaces for mental heath and to view wildlife which again Gedling have destroyed .All there interested in is hitting there targets of housing and don’t give a damn about local residence. I’m sure there will be alot of peope against this one due to an historic village being destroyed by new development . “Keep off our greenbelt “
I wholy support the views of all who spoke up against this resent attack on yet more green belt.
I have also been trying to make someone listen since 2018, about the Antrax pit in the area they propose to develope more. There was an outbreak in approx 1954 (3 in the area) The diseased cattle where buried nr. the farm where the outbreak accured Hills Farm.
If uncovered within a 100 year period there is a high risk of spores being released into the atmosphere. Research and a local vet has informed me this is a killer. There is still a 75% fatality risk with this disease. The pit is now very close to housing, a school and older persons home. An Older resident who worked on the farm and lived in Stoke Bardolph at the time have a clear memory of events.
Please listen.