Plans to build 68 new homes in Weston have been passed despite concerns over potential effects on what councillors said was an existing sewerage problem.
Ashwood Homes has been given permission for the development off High Road on the proviso it provides Section 106 contributions of £206,768 towards education, £44,880 to the NHS and £40,000 to Weston Parish Council for a new play area for the village.
The latter objected to the development on a number of grounds including over-development of the village, lack of supporting infrastructure, the extra traffic and particularly highlighting existing sewerage problems.
Its chair Chris Dicks told South Holland District Council’s Planning Committee yesterday (Thursday, February 9): “We’ve been in dialogue with Anglian Water regarding the capacity at Moulton Treatment Centre which their original report said there was not sufficient capacity for foul flow. However, in the same paragraph it stated if the application was granted it would ensure sufficient capacity be found. We find this claim contradictory.
“We find it conceivable how this foul flow can be managed?
“We have sufficient evidence that even without these new, large developments, local residents are facing continuing flow back problems where raw sewage is returning to their households.
“After a meeting with Anglian Water they’ve agreed to implement an investigation into the whole of the network in Weston, including the use of CCTV.”
Coun Anthony Casson added: “The pumps get over-loaded and cut out,” he said. “People are fed up of reporting when they have a problem because nothing ever happens.
“There’s been raw sewage running down the road and they don’t do anything.”
But planning officer Phil Norman told the meeting: “I understand the concern but procedurally this would end up in front of the planning inspector and with all this information in front of them, we’d be on a very sticky wicket.”
Planning committee chair Coun James Avery said: “Outside of these walls this council needs to put pressure on Anglian Water to ensure that they do deliver against their obligations.
“But using this application with a stick to beat them with would be making a rod for our own backs in terms of the developer.”
Others praised the financial contributions and the application design which includes the required 17 affordable homes though some concerns were also raised about the inclusion of private drives and associated waste collection points.
Outline permission for a development of 51 homes on the site had been granted in 2018.
The application was passed with three councillors voting against it.
