Residents air views on £1bn villages plan
[gallery] Three schools and two railway stations will be included in a £1 billion super scheme for new villages and a business park in Staffordshire.
Residents have had their say on the plans, which would create 8,000 new jobs and 5,000 homes and went on display for the first time yesterday.
People's views are now being sought on the masterplan by BDW Trading Ltd, covering Barton-under-Needwood, Alrewas and Fradley.
Early blueprints show a housing development named Brookhay Residential Village will occupy land east of the A38 at Fradley and could make up to five new villages. Two primary schools and a secondary school will be built to serve them.
Plans for a railway station at the National Memorial Arboretum emerged earlier this week but it has also been revealed there will be another, at a business park being constructed as part of the huge scheme. Twin Rivers Park will be built between Alrewas and Barton while a water sports and leisure complex will be installed to the east beside the River Trent.
At a meeting for developers and residents yesterday, Whittington resident Rod Hallam, aged 73, said he thought the plans were great and would create something good for the area.
Lavinia Hallam, 70, added: "It is not as close to Fradley and Alrewas as we first feared and it will develop the area well."
John Stone, 71 from Alewas however said he had moved from Birmingham recently and was worried it would over-populate a rural area.
Trevor White, aged 65 from Whittington added: "The A38 is already very busy and I don't know how it will cope with even more traffic." The public consultation continues today at the National Memorial Arboretum between 3pm and 7pm.
