Objections are posted

A campaign group has received more than 700 letters objecting to two large-scale developments planned for Bingham.

Nearly 450 letters have been sent to Community Concern about the proposed Tesco on Chapel Lane, and a further 264 about The Crown Estate’s plans for 1,000 homes, employment and recreational facilities north of the railway line.

The letters will be sent, with a letter from Community Concern urging the applications to be rejected, to Rushcliffe Borough Council, which will make the decisions.

Community Concern’s chairman, Mr Dennis Briggs, said: “Most people are worried about the impact on traffic congestion in the town and the safety risks posed by large numbers of people crossing the railway line.

“Tesco objectors are also concerned about the risk to existing town-centre shops and the stupidity of having the store access within yards of the busy level crossing.

“Many of those objecting to The Crown Estate proposal make the point that the whole character of the town would be changed by such a massive increase in the size of the town.”

A group member, Mr Patrick Hanmer, of Long Acre, said people were getting emotional about the issue as they realised the face of the town would be spoilt if the planning applications were approved.

He said: “Considerable vacant building land exists in Bingham, with planning permission granted already. This indicates the matter is not so much about satisfying the so-called demand for housing but is about raising money for The Crown Estate.

“Should Bingham be sacrificed for this?”

According to public consultation for the Tesco plans, 75% of the 362 people who responded were in favour, compared with 14% against and 11% undecided.

In the same exercise, 60% of 450 responses were against The Crown Estate development.

Mr Douglas Travers, of Abbey Road, supports both applications.

He said: “The whole Crown Estate proposal offers a great future for Bingham’s next generation. It will create new spaces and locations, which will ease pressure on the town centre.”

He felt additional parking provided by Tesco would reduce congestion.

“If we do not welcome these ambitious developments, then Bingham will become a backwater, lacking the facilities offered by its neighbours and continually frustrated by its lack of space and provision for basic amenities,” he said.