Homes move despite row

Plans to build 85 homes in Rugeley which have sparked anger among residents look set to be granted despite their protests.

Planners at Cannock Chase Council are recommending the authority secures a section 106 agreement on contributions to the pot of cash for local improvements by the developer behind the scheme, then approval with conditions.

The application for land near Brindley Bank Pumping Station will come before the council's planning control committee on Wednesday.

If given the go-ahead it would see one to five-bedroom homes built on open green space north-east of Wolseley Road. The access would be between the junction of Bower Lane and the pumping station lane.

Neighbours are objecting on the grounds that any extra housing would generate too much traffic as well as the impact on wildlife in the area.

Jane Marshall, of Albany Drive, said residents from her street, The Beeches, Hampton Court and Bower Lane, who have written to the council and Staffordshire Highways with their objections, planned to turn up in force at the next Rugeley Forum.

But the planning committee could rubber stamp the application on Wednesday. Seabridge Property submitted and withdrew an application in June last year after meeting stiff opposition.

The re-submitted plans provide more information about the impact the development would have on woodland and traffic as well as a flood risk assessment.

The layout of proposed homes has also been changed slightly to allow better views of the Grade II listed pumping station.

But Mrs Marshall said: "None of the plans have changed at all as far as we are concerned, except that they want to put a roundabout in at the bottom of Bower Lane and residents of Bower Lane are even less happy about that than they were about the previous application."