Newark Town Council objects to plans for 87 homes on part of the Highfields School site, off London Road, Balderton

‘Take the hint, no means no’ was the response when a planning application was debated on its sixth submission.

Proposals for approaching 100 houses on Highfields School school land and neighbouring fields, off London Road, have been rejected each time they have been submitted.

This time, Avant Homes has come forward with a proposal for 87 houses and is again asking for trees, included ten that have protection orders on them, to be felled.

The only immediately noticeable change in the latest application is that it asks for one home less than last time.

The most requested in previous applications was 94.

Newark Town Council’s planning committee met to discuss the application as a consultee and objected, adding their voice to a vast number of nearby residents.

Committee member Mathew Skinner said: “I’m quite tired of seeing this application come forward, I just wish the applicant involved in this project would get the hint that no means no!”

The dwellings would sit near the eastern boundary of the site, next to The Woodwards. The majority of the housing will sit on Baileys Field and Quibell Field to the rear of the school.

Houses included a mix of two to five-bedroom homes, four two-bedroom bungalows and two three-bedroom bungalows.

Councillors’ main concerns were the removal of trees that were subject to protection orders and the ecological impact on species at risk in the area.

Another concern was the extra traffic that the works would cause on the busy and often congested London Road.

County highways has also objected due to the increased traffic the development would bring.

Flooding issues were also raised at town council as London Road can often be awash after rainfall. The site located in flood zone 1.

In its response, Balderton Parish Council commented: “Traffic concerns remain, and the access and egress arrangements are inadequate. Queues already form at the start and end of the school day without such a high number of residents using the same access.

“The scheme is so considered to be over-intensive and will result in a loss of mature trees, many of which are subject to preservation orders.

“Surface water drainage management issues are also a concern, London Road already floods in that vicinity during heavy rainfall.”

The lack of NHS infrastructure in the area was also raised as a concern as the medical buildings nearby don’t have capacity for over 80 new people.

Prit and Maureen Ahluwalia of The Woodwards, claim to be substantially affected by the proposal. They said: “We do feel this applicant has repeatedly demonstrated they have no understanding of the need to conserve nature, have a safe and secure environment and take into account local feelings.

“Also has no respect for the views of others who would not commercially benefit from this scheme.”

Rex Kinnear-Mellor said: “Our previously submitted reasons for objection remain extant with this resubmission failing to address our concerns.

“It relates to privacy loss, building density, traffic generation and highway safety, pedestrian safety, more suitable alternative sites, loss of recreational space, hazardous material exposure and ecological impact.”

The application will be decided by Newark and Sherwood District Council.