FEARS BELLAMY’S POND MAY BE LOST
Moves to build 22 new homes in a village have angered residents.
Developer J G Homes, of Bailgate, uphill Lincoln, has submitted plans to build the houses in The Close, Fiskerton, near the city.
But householders fear that a nature reserve on the site, which was opened by celebrity conservationist Dr David Bellamy five years ago, will be swallowed up by the development.
West Lindsey District Council sold the site to the developer for about £500,000.
There are already six empty and derelict homes on the land. The firm wants to demolish one of them, refurbish the rest and build 18 new properties.
The area has become overgrown since the council put it up for sale about 18 months ago.
Andrew Cooke (38), of High Street, Fiskerton, said: “A lot of residents are concerned about the density of the buildings, but our main concerns are about the wildlife area.
“There’s an owl box in there, dragonflies, newts, an apple tree, and migrating birds.
“No-one is completely against the development, but it just seems a shame to lose that wildlife area.”
Villager Pete Houlden (74), of The Crescent, said: “I’m not against the building, but it’s the amount they’re thinking of putting in.”
And Alison Aston (48), of High Street, said that there would be too many houses for such a small plot of land.
“And there’s the issue of the pond that was opened up by David Bellamy some years ago,” she said.
“It will be lost to the world, never mind the community.
“I think developers, even before they put in for planning permission, should ask people like us what we think, and whether we can see what is being proposed, so issues or problems can be discussed in advance.”
West Lindsey District Council planning officer Michelle Clewes said that they had received four letters of objection from residents.
“We have posted a planning notice on the site and sent out letters to home owners telling them what the company is proposing,” she said.
“Of course any objections made by residents will be taken into consideration by planners when they make their decision.”
The council hopes to consider the application before August 2.
The Echo contacted J G Homes but the directors of the company were out of the country and unavailable for comment.