Rayne residents fear flooding problems could be made worse if plans to build new homes on the outskirts of the village get the go-ahead

Owner of Fargo Coachlines, Mr Leslie Smith, wants to move his depot and motor repair business out of School Road, Rayne and build five new homes on the site

Braintree Council refused planning permission because it went against planning policy for the countryside.

Mr Smith appealed and an informal hearing was held last week

Planning inspector Martin Champion heard residents' concerns about the possible impact on the drainage system

Neighbour Mrs Margaret Eley said she had suffered considerable flooding in the past due to an existing drainage problem. She was worried the drains would not be able to cope with any extra burden. "Where is all this water from these houses going to go?" she asked.

For Mr Smith, Ray Ricks argued the situation should improve if the development went ahead because to make way for gardens and landscaping there would be less concrete hard standing for rain to run off

The parish council backed the scheme, mainly because it would mean ridding the village of the coaches.

Cllr Harold Giles told the hearing they wanted the coaches out of the way for environmental and safety reasons, particularly in the bid to get children to walk to school.

Mr Ricks claimed the housing development would reduce the number of vehicles going in and out of the site. He also argued that it was preferable to the existing use of the site and would enhance the rural landscape.

For Braintree Council Mr Russell Forde said he considered the benefits of the scheme had been greatly exaggerated and felt it would do more harm than good. He described it as a "suburban type development" unlikely to be found in the countryside and landscaping would not make it acceptable. The proposals failed on "all levels of planning policy".

A decision will be given later

Published Thursday, June 19, 2003

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