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Locals 'caged' by developers
Residents in Bamber Bridge are furious over a metal fence that that has gone up in their neighbourhood.
Controversial developers Wainhomes have put up the fence to protect their land in Goldcrest Drive and Kingfisher Way after their application to build five detached homes and a terrace of four on the land was turned down.
Locals have compared it to a zoo cage and now South Ribble Council has ordered the developers to change the design.
Married mum-of-two Louise Davies, 37, who lives on Goldcrest Drive, next to the site, said: "Residents are up in arms.
"We are concerned kids are going to climb on the fence and could impale themselves. There should be open space and an area where kids can play.
"It's an eyesore and is dangerous. It's like going to Chester Zoo.
"No disrespect but it looks like a council estate and these houses are 200,000 plus."
Mrs Davies said a 20-year Lancashire County Council covenant order preventing development on the land was recently ended after an agreement with Wainhomes.
Wainhomes North West boss Steve Robinson said: "It's not illegal to fence off your land. As far as we are concerned, we have done nothing wrong.
"I cannot understand why people are upset. It's allocated as open space but that does not mean it's for people to use.
"The planning system has given them their houses. They're just NIMBYs."
A spokesman for South Ribble Council said a planning officer had investigated the site.
He added: "Our planner has advised the developer part of the fencing does need planning permission and the developer is taking steps to rectify this."
Officers originally approved the nine-home plan subject to conditions but it was thrown out by the planning committee as it 'would involve the loss of part of an allocated site for open spaces purposes'.
Residents also said the plan would alter the character of the estate, reduce privacy and parking spaces, cause congestion, negatively impact on pedestrian safety and affect wildlife.
Wainhomes declined to comment on the council's decision or future plans for the land.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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