Derbyshire villagers demand new access road for controversial homes development

Campaigners in a Derbyshire village are demanding a new access route is found for a controversial homes development.
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Residents in Glapwell have been protesting about a plan to build 62 homes on land off Park Avenue – in addition to a further 65 properties nearby.

They say their amenities will be ‘stretched to breaking point’ and claim the amount of traffic created both during the building work and after will ruin their way of life.

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Villagers are also concerned the development will see a number of trees felled and wildlife habitats lost.

Campaigners protest about the development in Glapwell.Campaigners protest about the development in Glapwell.
Campaigners protest about the development in Glapwell.

Campaigners from the Park Avenue Avengers group say they want to see an alternative access route to and from the new development if it does go ahead.

Spokesperson Sarah Bister said: “Alternative access would be so much better. It has been mentioned that we are concerned about the construction traffic.

"But the traffic full stop will be a nightmare. It’s a dead end of 40 houses right now.”

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The campaigners also say the Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted the need for green space.

"Elderly residents and families live on Park Avenue and this land is vital for their physical and mental health and well-being,” Sarah said.

“They also don’t need 170 cars coming up and down that road.”

The group has used the Freedom of Information Act to access letters between Bolsover District Council and the developer.

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In them, the council asks whether an alternative access route can be explored across land to the rear of Glapwell Cricket Ground.

A letter dated June 11 says the council’s growth scrutiny committee has ‘concerns’ about the use of Park Avenue to access the site.

However, a response from the developer says any change would require new planning permission and would therefore be ‘less desirable from both a planning and cost perspective’.

Developer Stuart Hill, who owns Glapwell Nurseries, has previously said the development will ‘strengthen local business, employment and community life’.

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"I am confident that the addition of new homes to the top of Park Avenue will not negatively affect existing properties on Park Avenue or Mansfield Road,” he told us earlier this year.

“The development has many acknowledged benefits and there is an urgent need for new housing across the UK at present."

Bolsover District Council declined to comment.

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