We don’t want newbuild homes in our quiet pretty village – they won’t fit in & we’re happy to be called NIMBYs
RESIDENTS of a quiet village have said that they don’t want newbuild homes in their area as they won’t fit in.
Disgruntled locals in Veryan, Cornwall, are fearing their idyllic way of life will soon be wiped out by a proposed new development.
The picturesque village is an attractive place to live and is close enough to wonderful beaches such as Carne and Pendower.
Now, Nick Hewitt-Boorman, in conjunction with Coastline Housing, is proposing a development of 13 affordable homes for residents.
The properties will be built on a field next to Veryan Sports and Social Club, overlooking Roseland Gardens housing estate.
But many are fearing the worst if the development gets the go-ahead.
Mary Clinton told CornwallLive: “While I recognise the need for affordable housing, I firmly believe that this particular development is ill-suited for the area and will have significant negative impacts on the community and environment.
“The proposal is for 13 houses but where is it going to end? There is a further extension of land further up – it will mushroom and mushroom until it’s a concrete jungle, and this village will no longer be a village.”
Locals have concerns over the the loss of agricultural land and a wildlife site that attracts a range of birds as well as deer and other animals.
There are also fears about access to the road which they believe is already dangerous.
Mary’s concerned daughter Michelle Clinton added: “I think of all the spaces within Veryan village it’s the most impractical – there’s only one road going in and out, there’s drainage issues as far as I’m aware.”
Georgie White’s young son Isaac has even written to Veryan Parish Council, saying: “Please don’t ruin an area of outstanding natural beauty – please do not wreck our wonderful fields with houses that are really not needed and ruining some lovely cows’ homes.”
Georgie said: “It’s what we consider a brownfield site, rather than building on actual farmland.
“Numbers at the school are very low, more houses will bring young people into the village, but it has to be the right place, not an agricultural site which has ecological importance.”
And Pauline Whitaker added: “We feel that this field is a site of natural beauty.
“We are not against housing being built in Veryan at all, but we do feel there is an alternative site which is much more appropriate.
“We already have a beautiful site built by the council for social housing and there’s a farm right next to it which is owned by the council, which apparently is going to be built on eventually so why not build on that now?”
Jacs Bell also agreed that the other field at Churchtown Farm had better infrastructure: “It’s got most of the structure there already, the road’s not as crazy as this one, which is very dangerous.
“If people want to call me a NIMBY, that’s okay by me. I’m proud to be a NIMBY because I love open fields.
“I’ve come here because I want to be where it’s beautiful and open, where there’s fresh air and we can see the cows and birds.
“I want to save places like this because all over the UK, but more so in Cornwall, we are losing fields and I don’t want to lose this field.”
Jacs continued: “We don’t need to tarmac everywhere, and put drains and poles in everywhere.
“If people want to call me a NIMBY, I’ll put a little badge on, that’s fine by me. I’m happy to be a NIMBY and I’m sure all these ladies are too.”
However, not all Veryan residents are against the proposals, with some believing the village field is exactly the right place for homes.
Kirsten Skentelbery said: “I am a local resident who lives in social housing and am extremely grateful to have affordable housing and live in such a beautiful village.
“I know many locals who are in need of affordable housing who are either having to live outside of their area due to nowhere to rent or families living in the village or struggling to pay the high rents of their property.”
She added: “There have been comments about the lack of infrastructure in the village. I brought up three small children here using the bus service for all essential amenities for years.
“Without our younger generations, our community and infrastructure cannot continue.
“An expanding community of young people is essential to keep the school going, social clubs such as Veryan Players and the local shop to continue their business.”
Cornwall Council’s member for Veryan Cllr Julian German said: “Just this week, I have been contacted by a Veryan person on behalf of their family who are facing a no-fault eviction from their current residence.
“There is a strong need within Veryan parish for local needs housing, with 35 households on the Homechoice housing register. This proposal, if approved, would provide 13 new dwellings, all for people meeting the local connection criteria.
“I saw recent reporting of residents and Cornwall councillors concerns where rural exception sites are delivering as little as 50% local needs housing, one such scheme recently being approved at Blackwater. So, I’m really pleased that this proposal is 100% local need.”
The councillor said: “Government data shows that the average terraced house in Veryan sells for £380,483.
“This is way out of reach of local people working in jobs such as agriculture, care and hospitality but we absolutely need these people living in the community.”