Last updated at 13:21, Friday, 22 March 2013

More than 100 people crammed into Dearham Village Hall to protest about a proposal to build 114 new homes.

AIRING VIEWS: Resident John Kendall speaks at the public meeting in Dearham Village Hall over plans to build 114 homes in the village

Protestors warned that the Persimmon Homes plan for an estate near Newlands Park would result in local children being unable to get into the village school.

They claimed that drainage problems which already caused flooding would be made worse.

United Utilities has already said the village’s waste water treatment plant is near capacity.

It also criticised a plan to widen parts of The Went to give access to the new estate.

Several people said they lived in Dearham because it was a village and sent their children to the local school. They claimed the Persimmon development, plus a 78-home development by Story Homes, was turning Dearham into a town.

There was concern that some new houses built in Dearham over five or six years were still unoccupied.

County council leader Eddie Martin, who represents Dearham, and Allerdale councillor Louise Maguire urged people at Wednesday’s meeting to send submissions to Allerdale council by today.

Councillor Martin said he was objecting because the estate was an over-development and there were highways, sewerage and drainage issues.

Objectors want people to lodge concerns individually rather than sign a petition, so there is more weight to the objections collectively.

Coun Maguire urged people on Newlands Estate to oppose any plan to get access to the new scheme through their estate.

Sam Kidd, Dearham Primary School headteacher, yesterday confirmed that the school was nearing capacity and that no new pupils were being taken into year five.

She added: “We do have at least one child who came into the village and has been refused admission because we have no room.”

She said the school wished to remain neutral about planning decisions but she added that contributions promised by both Story Homes and Persimmon, amounting to more than £400,000, would not solve the problem.

Although architects said there would be room for three new classrooms and a hall on the site, the development would be difficult because of the layout.

Persimmon Homes said the company was responding to a demand for new houses.

Mark Cook, managing director, said: “We are working closely with the planning and highways authorities to ensure our plans meet all of their requirements.

“Research shows that for every new home that is built, up to five new jobs are created. Last year we supported more than 1,600 jobs in our region and we aim to continue to boost the local economy.”

First published at 13:03, Friday, 22 March 2013
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk