A planning application for 240 new homes on Cuckoo Meadow has been met with strong opposition from residents.
Bovis Homes Ltd submitted a planning application to Wealden District Council for the construction of a housing development on land to the west of Park Road, Hailsham.
The proposal also included a network of green infrastructure and amenity space, incorporating existing public rights of way, a new vehicular access from Park Road and emergency access off Upper Horsebridge Road with links to the Cuckoo Trail.
However, the application has not had a warm reception from nearby residents.
Writing their concerns to Wealden District Council, Phil Hobden said: “Hailsham can not support further residential developments. The town is already a nightmare to get around with the round packed to capacity.
“Locally, the limited services we have are pushed to the max. Doctors and dentists cannot cope with the influx of yet another development.
“Until these provisions are made with a way to improve the life of those people who already live in the town, this application should be denied.
“In addition, we have less policing now in the area than ever yet we have added 1,000s of new houses. This past year has seen considerable spikes in crime - stabbings, vandalism, domestic crime, theft - the local police cannot cope with the level of crime it currently faces let alone that which another development could bring.”
Mike Thomas added: “I vehemently object to yet more green-field sites around Hailsham being lost to overcrowded, unsightly housing developments.
“Ignoring for a moment the obvious destruction of existing wildlife habitat, this application in no way takes into account the very real issues we now have in Hailsham in terms of an infrastructure that has not been upgraded as more and more housing is crammed into the area.
“Doctors and dentists surgeries, schools and nurseries are already oversubscribed. The road network and parking provisions in town are, at peak times, unable to cope with the existing volume of traffic.
“The water supply system is obviously under strain also, as evidenced by the recent major incident; Southern Water had a contingency plan that could not keep up with demand at current levels.
“Hailsham is rapidly approaching saturation point in terms of being able to support new housing.”
Residents are able to voice their opinions on the development, whether positive or negative, until Friday, July 10 via the council website.
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