Opposition to ‘unsustainable’ Kedington development

A planning application for up to 40 residential units with associated garages, parking spaces and roads is being considered by St Edmundsbury Borough Council.

The development will be on a plot of land at the junction of Hall Road and Mill Road in the village.

The proposed development was discussed by the council’s planning committee on Thursday, December 4, and a decision has been deferred until the beginning of next year.

Concerns have been raised as to whether the small village can cope with the additional strain of a dramatically increased population.

“It would put quite a bit of strain on the infra-structure,” said Marion Farrant, clerk of Kedington parish council. “We’re particularly concerned about the junction because it’s a nightmare at school drop-off and pick-up times anyway.

“There are also concerns over the sewarage system.”

This development would not be the first large scale building work in Kedington.

“The Stourmead villagers aren’t happy,” said Cllr Tony Brown, Suffolk County Councillor for Kedington. “That was another 60 houses in the area. With this development as well, there would be 100 additional houses in the village.

“They’re talking about a sustainable community, this is not sustainable.

“Schools here are already at full capacity. There’s a possibility, with the extra families moving in, of children having to be taken by car to Haverhill.

“It seems to go against everything the council and government are saying about villages.

“I can’t see what it would bring to the village.

“We would welcome two or three new developments, but huge blocks of housing being imposed on them is to the detriment of the village.”