Brandon and Weeting residents collaborate to battle regeneration proposal
Communities in Brandon and Weeting are fighting against ‘opportunist’ regeneration plans which threaten to ‘devastate the heart’ of the town.
The Brandon Community Union was founded following the launch of a public consultation on the latest plans, put forward by unidentified developers Brandon Strategic Land.
And it is now receving support from the Brandon Action Group, first formed in 1991 to fight for a bypass for the town, which is reforming to battle the new proposals.
A spokeswoman for the Community Union claims the development is ‘taking advantage’ of traffic reduction in the town, brought about by the completion of the A11 dualling scheme last month.
“There is a large percentage of residents concerned about this drastic ‘regeneration’ proposal, who fail to see where the ‘regeneration’ part fits in for the existing town,” she said.
“Our already stretched resources will not be improved and despite what they say, there is still a risk the level crossing will close if a ‘relief road’ crossing is built, thus devastating the heart of our town. This proposal is not the way forward for Brandon.”
Weeting resident John Maxim, who chairs the Action Group, said: “Their proposal would double the size of Brandon, which is just pure stupidity. They do not want to know what the residents want.
“There is no way we need another construction project in Weeting. Our village is spread out enough as it is, and this would be disastrous for us.”
Forest Heath district councillor for Brandon East and Action Group secretary, Eddie Stewart, said: “To double the size of the town is not ‘regeneration’, it just creates more problems.
“These 1,600 homes would put up to 3,000 more cars on the road. Brandon already has a parking problem, which will be exacerbated by this, and our High Street is not adequate for the additional number of cars.”
The Community Union also object to the ‘outrageous’ proposals for a two-lane ‘relief road’, complete with eight roundabouts, also believing it to be no more than an ‘access road’ for the new site.
At a Brandon Town Council meeting last week, chairman Reg Silvester said any proposed relief road should be made at least three lanes, to allow for a 60mph speed limit.
