Jobs more important than residents

[Lilly]

Are we really there where the residents strong feelings against something are made irrelevant? :(I read in the Surrey Comet about yet another housing development that got the green light recently. This time 147 new houses in Hamptons (http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/4584567.Controversial_Hamptons_development_gets_gr een_light/) at Worchester Park.
I feel so sorry for the people living there! They have been in a battle to stop this for two years because they believe there isn’t enough infrastructure or GPs in the area.
Apparently the developers are throwing extras into this deal and will be spend over a million pounds on adding infrastructure as well as GPs and schools to the area. Maybe this could lighten their anger. And maybe if it creates enough jobs (http://www.careers-jobs.eu) for the locals it could also be positive. But I don’t think they fought for two years for nothing…

[Josie]

I don't think the opinion of the little people like us really matters at all anymore to be honest! We can fight all we like but things always seem to get the go ahead and get planning permission to build more and more and ruin what we have left of the greenery in our area! Even to the extent of getting planning permission for green belt land! Its money that talks and that seems to be all that matters to the people handing out the permission!

Even if it creates jobs in the area - which I agree yes is a positive, it cannot make up for the fact that it is an unwanted developement and will ruin the area! I mean really how much do they need to build? As I have said many times over - why not fix up area's that are already built on instead? Put the houses there????

[Lilly]

I agree Josie. This is, bull! I will back something that is needed and frankly I don't even care about the jobs it will create because like you say they can go and build the places somewhere else!!!
I feel sorry for residents who fight against something and just get ignored. Then when the building is over and done with developers move on and it is the residents that sit with the mess day in and day out.

[Josie]

The town I was brought up in has been developed so much over the years and it continues to happen now! I swear if I seriously thought about the amount of land they have built on it would make you think!

There are places I used to play that don't exist anymore! Its like build build build is all they think about!

Its just makes you sick and tired as our opinions are not realyl taken into account are they? Its all about the money!

[PennyBlack]

The problem is that we desperately need more housing but we are surrounded by 'Green Belt'. Counsellors are hell bent on preserving this at all costs so you get 'in building' in towns which are now bursting at the seems.With all the influx of aslyum seekers and immigrants and a growing indigenous population anyway, sooner or later the decision is going to have to be made to build OUT and not IN.If you drive around England you will be shocked and amazed at just how much of it is simply open land and the areas of population in comparison are very small. We've loads of room to build and we need more housing and new towns for future generations.

[Josie]

I see your point Penny but do you not agree that before they do any of that they should concentrate on derelict buildings instead? Use what has been wasted rather than build on fresh land? It may be more expensive but I am sure that it will be better in the long run?

[alfie]

The derelict buildings point is very valid as an exception, but I agree with the point that it's crazy to have large areas with no building at all and then built up areas that are so densely populated that nobody wants to live there. We need balance, with some building allowed in green belt areas. Otherwise it becomes another "them and us" issue. It is possible, with less control, to have small attractive develoopments in the green belt or other rural areas

[Lilly]

If we need housing - then I guess we don't have a case do we? My fear is loosing land just for the sake of building. I think developers and council members should start expressing why they give certain things the go-ahead. I think it will make the angry mob of protesters feel better, possibly. And journalist will then have another side to portray as well. Because all I have been seeing lately is plans to build on green belt and angry residents with multiple angry letters - it does make you wonder about what's really going on...

[Josie]

Yeah I guess so - at least if there was some justification to thier actions and it didnt just seem to be all ablout the money then people may start to understand a bit better???