Councillor to continue fight against Hawarden 300 homes
Last week, Flintshire Council's planning committee voted in favour of Castle Green Home's Ash Lane development - located between Hawarden and Mancot.
The proposal has been fiercely contested by local councillors and residents - and subject to a "Stop the Gladstone Estate Build" campaign, fronted by Hawarden councillor, Sam Swash. The council received 2,500 objections from local residents ahead of the planning meeting.
The land had been ear-marked for development in Flintshire's Local Development Plan (LDP) - despite grave concerns over the potential impact on flooding in the already badly hit Sandycroft area, and on the strain placed on local infrastructure.
Following the meeting, Cllr Swash has voiced his anger at the decision - and vowed to continue the fight against the development.
He said: "This is, without a doubt, a major setback – but it isn't the end of the road.
"I've fought this proposal from the very beginning, and I've always said: I won't stop fighting until there are bricks in the ground. I am not giving up.
"Not when our doctors are already at more than double the safe number of patients. Not when residents in Lower Mancot and Sandycroft are being flooded again and again. Not when traffic chaos outside our schools is putting children's safety at risk."
The layout of the Ash Lane development. (Image: Planning documents) MORE NEWS:
An online petition set up by a local resident calling for the decision to be overturned has already gathered over 1,000 signatures.
It states: "The decision not only threatens to exacerbate traffic hazards but also increases the flood potential of the area. The residents of Sandycroft, and Sandycroft Primary School are particularly at risk of flooding.
"The Ash Lane agricultural fields are the natural boundary between the villages of Hawarden and Mancot. Building these houses will destroy the historical identities for both villages. Eliminating this green space will have severe consequences for local residents already wary of environmental threats.
"Moreover, the addition of 300 new houses will place an incredible strain on essential public services which are already stretched beyond their limits.
"The demand for GP appointments, NHS dental services, and local school places will surge, negatively impacting the quality of life for all residents. It's crucial to assess whether our current infrastructure can cope with this potential increase, a concern many local residents share."
Cllr Swash added: "There are still barriers for the developer to overcome. If they think we're going to roll over while they ride roughshod over our community's views, they're in for a surprise.
"To everyone who has supported the campaign – who emailed, submitted objections, attended meetings, or put up placards – thank you. I know many of you will feel as angry and distraught as I do.
"But this fight isn't over. The next steps in our campaign are already being drawn up – and your support will remain absolutely vital. So, watch this space."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
a day ago
- Scotsman
West Lothian could see another 12.500 new homes by 2038
West Lothian could see another 12,500 homes built in the decade to 2038. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... And communities have told planners that a more diverse choice of homes – including more bungalows- are needed to meet the needs of an ageing population. A full meeting of West Lothian council agreed to approve the first stage of a new Local Development Plan as a blueprint for the future look of communities. Wet Lothian could see another 12,500 homesby 2038 Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad National planning demands call for West Lothian to have another 9.850 homes by 2038, but planners raised that to more than 12,000 , having accepted community calls for greater diversity of house styles, including more bungalows as well as more smaller homes to allow downsizing among a growing elderly population. There has also been a call for more affordable housing. This initial stage known as the Evidence Report now goes to the Scottish Government for approval. It sets out where development should take place and what is needed to accompany that development. Councillors gave cautious welcome to the proposals but aired concerns about health care provision and transport infrastructure, both of which dominate the conversation on existing housing development proposals. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Earlier worries that they would not have enough time to work through the hefty document's 1,000 plus pages were allayed. Linlithgow Lib Dem Sally Pattle had, at a recent meeting, warned that developers would be 'watching us like hawks' as she stressed the need for councillors to 'get things right' in the plan. She told the meeting: ' After being slightly alarmed a couple weeks ago I'm pleased to say I have had some really good discussions with officers. I am now reassured that we have to get this evidence report in I understand the tightness of the timescales we are up against I also have been reassured that we just at the beginning of this process.' Proposing a motion accepting the paper, council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick said; ' We are taking a big step forward; it has required a significant amount of work by council officers. I'm glad to note there has been massive interaction between officers and councillors with regard to queries. I move that we accept the recommendation which includes the corrections to be included.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Planning officers stressed that the evidence gathering had consulted communities on their hopes and expectations for the future. The finalised Local Development Plan which has to be in place for 2028 should reflect those community demands. A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: 'We would like to thank everyone who engaged in the process that has enabled planning officers to prepare this evidence report. It is important to stress this is an early point in the process of creating a new Local Development Plan for West Lothian. 'Completion of this gate check process will then allow planning officers to prepare the first draft of the new local development plan for West Lothian. This process will once again require extensive engagement with key stakeholders and local communities and the council will once again be calling on members of the public to participate. Details of how you can get involved will be shared in due course.'
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
West Lothian could see another 12,500 homes built in the decade to 2038
West Lothian could see another 12,500 homes built in the decade to 2038. And communities have told planners that a more diverse choice of homes – including more bungalows- are needed to meet the needs of an ageing population. A full meeting of West Lothian council agreed to approve the first stage of a new Local Development Plan as a blueprint for the future look of communities. National planning demands call for West Lothian to have another 9.850 homes by 2038, but planners raised that to more than 12,000 having accepted community calls for greater diversity of house styles, including more bungalows as well as more smaller homes to allow downsizing among a growing elderly population. There has also been a call for more affordable housing. This initial stage known as the Evidence Report now goes to the Scottish Government for approval. It sets out where development should take place and what is needed to accompany that development. Councillors gave cautious welcome to the proposals but aired concerns about health care provision and transport infrastructure, both of which dominate the conversation on existing housing development proposals. Earlier worries that they would not have enough time to work through the hefty document's 1,000 plus pages were allayed. Linlithgow Lib Dem Sally Pattle had, at a recent meeting, warned that developers 'would be watching us like hawks' as she stressed the need for councillors to 'get things right' in the plan. She told the meeting: ' After being slightly alarmed a couple weeks ago I'm pleased to say I have had some really good discussions with officers and I really wanted to say extend my thanks for the time that they have provided me with in the last couple of weeks so that I understood the process and am a lot clearer about what is going happen going forward. 'I am now reassured that we have to get this evidence report in I understand the tightness of the timescales we are up against I also have been reassured that we just at the beginning of this process. 'As long as we all keep working together, we'll be able to get there with the best outcome for West Lothian so thank you very much.' Proposing a motion accepting the paper council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick said; 'We are taking a big step forward; it has required a significant amount of work by council officers. I'm glad to note there has been massive interaction between officers and councillors with regard to queries. I move that we accept the recommendation which includes the corrections to be included.' Planning officers stressed that the Evidence gathering had consulted communities on their hopes and expectations for the future. The final Local Development Plan which has to be in place for 2028 should reflect those community demands. A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: 'We would like to thank everyone who engaged in the process that has enabled planning officers to prepare this evidence report. It is important to stress this is an early point in the process of creating a new Local Development Plan for West Lothian. 'Completion of this gate check process will then allow planning officers to prepare the first draft of the new local development plan for West Lothian. This process will once again require extensive engagement with key stakeholders and local communities and the council will once again be calling on members of the public to participate. Details of how you can get involved will be shared in due course.' The latest information on LDP2 can be accessed via the West Lothian Council website: By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
West Lothian could see another 12,500 homes built by 2038 under development plan
A full meeting of West Lothian Council agreed to approve the first stage of a new Local Development Plan as a blueprint for the future look of communities. West Lothian could see another 12,500 homes built in the decade to 2038. And communities have told planners that a more diverse choice of homes - including more bungalows- are needed to meet the needs of an ageing population. A full meeting of West Lothian council agreed to approve the first stage of a new Local Development Plan as a blueprint for the future look of communities. National planning demands call for West Lothian to have another 9.850 homes by 2038 but planners raised that to more than 12,000 having accepted community calls for greater diversity of house styles, including more bungalows as well as more smaller homes to allow downsizing among a growing elderly population. There has also been a call for more affordable housing. This initial stage known as the Evidence Report now goes to the Scottish Government for approval. It sets out where development should take place and what is needed to accompany that development. Councillors gave cautious welcome to the proposals but aired concerns about health care provision and transport infrastructure, both of which dominate the conversation on existing housing development proposals. Earlier worries that they would not have enough time to work through the hefty document's 1,000 plus pages were allayed. Linlithgow Lib Dem Sally Pattle had, at a recent meeting, warned that developers ' would be watching us like hawks' as she stressed the need for councillors to 'get things right' in the plan. She told the meeting: ' After being slightly alarmed a couple weeks ago I'm pleased to say I have had some really good discussions with officers and I really wanted to say extend my thanks for the time that they have provided me with in the last couple of weeks so that I understood the process and am a lot clearer about what is going happen going forward. 'I am now reassured that we have to get this evidence report in I understand the tightness of the timescales we are up against I also have been reassured that we just at the beginning of this process. 'As long as we all keep working together we'll be able to get there with the best outcome for West Lothian so thank you very much.' Proposing a motion accepting the paper council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick said; ' We are taking a big step forward; it has required a significant amount of work by council officers. I'm glad to note there has been massive interaction between officers and councillors with regard to queries. I move that we accept the recommendation which includes the corrections to be included.' Planning officers stressed that the Evidence gathering had consulted communities on their hopes and expectations for the future. The final Local Development Plan which has to be in place for 2028 should reflect those community demands. A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: 'We would like to thank everyone who engaged in the process that has enabled planning officers to prepare this evidence report. It is important to stress this is an early point in the process of creating a new Local Development Plan for West Lothian. 'Completion of this gate check process will then allow planning officers to prepare the first draft of the new local development plan for West Lothian. This process will once again require extensive engagement with key stakeholders and local communities and the council will once again be calling on members of the public to participate. Details of how you can get involved will be shared in due course.'
