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Moulton Chapel residents call for councillors to visit 'monstrosity' Chapel Gate development before they make a decision




Villagers are calling on councillors to visit a controversial estate labelled a ‘monstrosity’ before making a decision on the latest planning application.

Eighteen people living in Moulton Chapel went to the last Moulton Parish Council meeting to speak out about the raised site levels of the Allison Homes Chapel Gate development in Roman Road.

Allison Homes has applied to South Holland District Council to confirm the site levels and reduce the western boundary level by half a metre.

Fed-up residents in Moulton Chapel outside the Allison Homes development (61859685)
Fed-up residents in Moulton Chapel outside the Allison Homes development (61859685)

Parish councillors are now writing to the district council to request the planning committee visit the estate to see residents concerns before making a decision on the latest application - which is due before the February meeting.

Coun Lawrence Wakefield said: “Anyone who is going to make a decision on the application cannot do it from a distance, I am going to make the proposal to ask them to meet with Moulton Parish Council so we can show them the site.

“No-one can make a decision without seeing what a monstrosity it is. It will ruin Moulton Chapel.”

Some residents expressed confusion during the meeting on whether the site’s levels were built to approved levels.

District councillor Anthony Casson said they were not but Ian Riley, who was representing the developer, said the site has been built according with the drainage and flooding assessment.

Mr Riley told the meeting that they are not proposing to change the access road levels and that on reflection there should be have been a wider discussion on the levels.

He also criticised the council for not sharing a summary of the objections.

Willa Vickers house owner and Jamie Garner neighbour at the development (61859694)
Willa Vickers house owner and Jamie Garner neighbour at the development (61859694)

Mr Riley said: “We have approval for houses and we need to find a solution. What I would like to do as Allison Homes is to try and resolve this with the council and residents who are most affected.”

Some residents raised concerns about flooding and invasion of privacy.

Resident Jeremy Smyth said: “I am curious that a development on one side of the road is so unique that it needs to be built up above surrounding ground levels than all the other developments.

Kim Smyth said: “Why is this even happening? Why are we sat here if it has not been done according to plan. We should have had this situation.”

Dean Tanner lives close to the raised development in Moulton Chapel (61859692)
Dean Tanner lives close to the raised development in Moulton Chapel (61859692)

Jessica Tanner, who lives next to the ‘ski slope’ access road, said: “I don’t feel that we are getting any further forward with a lot of these issues. A lot of people are sharing the same concerns.

“I really hope that when it goes to planning that the planning department say that they have been to it and seen the site.”

A spokesman for the district council said: “The Local Planning Authority determine planning applications in the context of national and local planning policies on flood risk and drainage. The county council, as Lead Local Flood Authority, and the Environment Agency are consulted and input into the process as required.

“It is incumbent upon applicants or developers to construct developments in accordance with the approved plans. Should a planning breach be identified the Local Planning Authority will take appropriate action.”

The developer had previously told this newspaper: “As part of this approval, and in order to achieve the sustainable drainage system that is favoured by Lincolnshire County Council, the site levels have been raised in line with that approval”.

But this has been denied by the county council.

A spokesman said: “The county council made no such requirement for the development to be built at that height. This seems to be the developer’s way of addressing flood risk concerns raised during the consultation stage.”

The notorious 'ski slope' entrance to the Allison Homes development in Roman Road (61859700)
The notorious 'ski slope' entrance to the Allison Homes development in Roman Road (61859700)

'I can see someone getting killed there'

Villagers have also raised safety concerns about the ‘ski slope’ entrance road to the controversial development.

Allison Homes has built a raised access road into its Chapel Gate development which is off Roman Road in Moulton Chapel.

Coun Lawrence Wakefield raised road safety concerns about the access road during the last Moulton Parish Council meeting.

He said: “There are a lot of children walking to the primary school or catching the bus to secondary school.

“If someone is coming out of there in a car and it’s icy like it was before Christmas, and they put the brakes on it and clear them up.

“The ski slope is going to be dangerous when it is wet. I can see someone getting killed there.”

He also raised concerns about Roman Road and St James’ Way being flooded as a result of water coming off the access road and the development.

Resident Jessica Tanner said at Tuesday’s meeting: “With regards to the safety of children going to school directly across that entrance. Would there be a risk assessment on the level of the road and angle it ups to ?”

A spokesman for Allison Homes said: “Our application, which was approved by SHDC in 2021, included a flood risk assessment and

drainage design. Both SHDC and Lincolnshire County Council, as the lead Local Flood Authority, agreed that by implementing the approved drainage design there will be no risk of flooding to neighbouring properties.”

The application in 2021 was approved to build 86 homes including 12 affordable dwellings.



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