Anger at plans to build on Berryfields playing field

RESIDENTS in Berryfields are outraged at plans to turn a well-used playing field into houses and flats.

Those living on Berryfield Park contacted the Melksham News after Selwood Housing announced plans to build houses and flats behind their homes.

The park according to residents is well used by children and by dog walkers who regularly use the field.  They also claim that Selwood has not consulted them properly as some houses which back directly onto the proposed site were not given notice. Those living in Winston Road who also back onto the field were not considered for the Selwood letter drop despite their houses backing onto the field.

Selwood plan to create access to the field which currently only has an entrance by foot by knocking down a semi-detached property that belongs to them and building an access road. However the proposed property due to be knocked down is attached to a private property.

Resident, Peter Alford said, “It’s unacceptable what they are trying to do. Firstly it’s a ridiculous place to build houses and flats – surely there are better places to build and the park is well used. We are due to lose the only other park when the canal is built, so what will the children of Berryfield be left with?

“The fact that not everybody has been consulted is not right. I know some of my neighbours only found out because we knocked on the doors to tell them. That includes those living on Winston Road which is all private properties and they didn’t have a clue.”

Jeremy Wiltshire who lives two doors from what will become the new access road said, “It is crazy; nobody is in support of this. The area can’t support it, it will be a safety risk with the positioning of the access road and the quality of the road can’t support the extra traffic – it struggles so much as it is.”

Lynda Balecke who will be rehoused as her property is set to be knocked down isn’t happy about being forced out. She said, “I don’t want to have to move but it looks like I may have no choice. I am happy here and feel like it’s not fair.”

Winston Road resident Gerald Salter said, “I feel very bitter about these plans. If the build goes ahead, the flats will look over my property as they are so close and my privacy will be lost.”

Selwood business development executive Steven Webster said, “We are currently considering the possibility of a small development of much needed affordable one, two and three bedroom homes on a patch of land we own at Berryfield Park.  As part of our early stage consultation process, we take care to write to the households in the area who would be directly affected by the development. In this case, if we decide to take this development further then we will begin the statutory process, during which, we will continue to listen to and take on board the opinions of those people who would be directly affected.”

The time frame for the project is not yet known.