Delight as flats plan refused

Around 20 people attended a Wealden District Council meeting on Thursday last week to hear members consider an application for the conversion of the flour mill in Upper Horsebridge Road.

Developer Citiscape wanted to create 12 homes in the mill and 10 live/work units on the site, with access via a new mini roundabout.

Cllr David White said: 'I am wholly opposed to this application.'

'The site is outside the development boundary. During an extensive search while setting the boundary we looked at alternative sites '“ and this site would have been considered and would have been rejected.'

'I also oppose this application on the basis of access.' He added:

'Thirdly, the loss of privacy '“ people who currently live on Baker Farm tend to be of a retirement age and tend to move to a park home because of the peace and tranquillity. This development would mean a loss of privacy and the loss of amenities.'

The council received 11 letters of objection from residents of the adjacent Bakers Farm estate, who feared overdevelopment of the site, loss of outlook and a dangerous increase in traffic travelling in and out of the narrow access road.