"Enough's enough" call as Wycombe green spaces earmarked for housing (From Bucks Free Press)

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"Enough's enough" call as Wycombe green spaces earmarked for housing

10:30am Tuesday 19th May 2009 in News By Oliver Evans

Wycombe District Council's offices in High Wycombe

HIGH Wycombe is becoming a “dumping ground” for new homes it has been warned after it was revealed five major green spaces are likely to be swallowed up.

Liberal Democrat councillors spoke out after Wycombe District Council revealed the “bad news” that reserve sites are likely to be released for housing by 2026.

The Government has set targets to build new houses through council planning powers, which where homes can be built.

This will include land off Kingshill Road at Terriers Farm, which runs parallel with Amersham Road.

Gomm Valley, which runs parallel with Cock Lane, would also be used for housing.

Slate Farm off Brook Bank, Bourne End would be released along with Abbey Barn North and South in Wycombe Marsh by the former RAF Daws Hill (see link, below).

If all were developed it would mean the east side of the town would be effectively urbanised with Kings Wood the only green space to break up development, between Totteridge and Tylers Green.

The homes could be built in the next 10 years.

See the links at the bottom of this story for maps of the sites.

Wycombe District Council member Ray Farmer said: “I am concerned that High Wycombe has become the dumping ground of Bucks for new homes without any real thought to the current homes in progress or land approved for building.

Related links

Fears over major Daws Hill homes plan

“Add to this the traffic issues we face with High Wycombe roads.”

Fellow Ryemead councillor Trevor Snaith said: “Enough’s enough, it’s time to say no to the building of more homes and additional traffic congestion in the town of High Wycombe.

“Gomm Valley and Abbey Barn can’t cope with the additional homes planned and additional traffic problems.”

In a presentation to residents council planning chiefs conceded it was “bad news” that it had to “plan for release of all reserve sites by 2026”.

Councillor Jean Teesdale, responsible for planning on the Conservative-led council, said: “It would be a last resort.

“We have these pressures from Government, there is nothing we can do about it.

“We aim to resist as long as possible but we have to find our housing numbers. We have to house people.”

The town was “very restricted” when compared to Aylesbury, she said.

Cllr Teesdale said: “It will be inevitable over the years that people will need housing, it is a growing population.”

Councillor David Shakespeare, a Tylers Green and Loudwater member on WDC, said: "In 12 months we are going to have a Conservative Government that has pledged to scrap these plans."

For Abbey Barn North, marked by GB1, and Abbey Barn South, north of the M40 click here.

For Terriers Farm, marked H2h, click here.

For Gomm Valley, the green striped area, click here.

For Slate Meadow, the green striped area by "Cores End", click here.

Comments(24)

yog says...
1:04pm Tue 19 May 09

Are the Conservatives on Wycombe District Council not convinced that they will win the next General Election and can then set their own national house building targets or is the truth that the Conservatives are quite happy to accept Labours Housing targets.

It is clear there is an agreement between Labour & Conservative politicians to fill in any available green space around Wycombe.