CAMPAIGNERS who oppose plans by a housing developer to build up to 100 homes on the outskirts of Barnard Castle have launched a website to encourage more people to object to the scheme.
A flurry of support last month for Banks Property’s plans to build an estate on agricultural land adjacent to Castle Vale development, in Darlington Road, raised questions from some residents who noted many of the letters submitted to Durham County Council were identical in style and content.
Duncan Holness, project manager at Banks Property, admitted a “one click support” form on its website was used to gather support for the scheme. The letters were then forwarded to planning officers.
More than 120 letters of support from residents in places such as Edinburgh, Newcastle, Willington and Crook, were submitted to the council using this system from. Only 12 of these were living in Barnard Castle when the Mercury investigated last month.
Now objectors have created their own website with a similar check-box email form to encourage more people to oppose the housing scheme.
The website states: “Banks Group have submitted proposals for an invasive 100-unit housing development which will cause unnecessary harm to Barnard Castle. Please use the form below to object to this development. Note, these details may be passed onto the planning officer.”
Alongside providing a name, email and address, residents are asked to select reasons for objecting including unacceptable development of the countryside, increased pressure on local services and road network and loss of agricultural land. Additional space is provided for any other additional objections.
A banner, attached to railings opposite the Co-op petrol station in Barnard Castle, simply states the website name and “protect our countryside” .
Banks says the development would provide a “highly desirable location for good quality housing” . The company says this is “vital to protect and enhance the vibrancy of the town and its services, and ensure it is able to retain its population, particularly young families” .
The planning application, as of last week, has attracted 188 objections and 131 letters of support.
