Bassetlaw man fears ‘dream home’ view will be blighted by huge new estate

Craig Bacon bought his detached four-bedroom property in Thievesdale for £240,000 three years ago after falling in love with the ‘beautiful’ view over green land and woods at its rear.

Father-of-two Craig told how he was left shocked to hear of council plans to build the large estate - along with business units and a new road in the quiet area near Gateford.

Craig, 39, said hundreds of fellow residents would be similarly affected by the plans - which are part of Bassetlaw District Council’s 15-year plan to meet housing needs for the area.

Restaurant manager Craig described the news of the plans as ‘soul destroying’.

He said: “We’ve worked hard all our lives and we’d found our perfect home - we love where we live now.

“It wasn’t the house that sold it for us - it was the view at the back of the property.

“For that to be gone is devastating - it’s soul destroying.

“Everyone around here is devastated - we all paid a premium for this view.”

Craig said he feared for the future of a wooded area called Long Plantation in the middle of the site.

“If they build they will kill all the wildlife off - it will be gone,” he added.

Craig is on a mission to make others in the area aware of the plans - which would include a road linking Blyth Road with Carlton Road to take pressure off the two major routes.

He told how the only notice householders had received about consultation events over the plans had been posters stuck on lamp-posts.

Craig, who spent hours leafleting houses in the area alerting them to the meeting, said the event at Thievesdale Community Centre had received a ‘substantial’ turnout.

He added: “There was a lot of anger at those meetings yesterday.”

Cllr Jo White, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at Bassetlaw District Council, said: “The Peaks Hill Farm site allocation forms an important part of the Draft Bassetlaw Local Plan and has the potential to deliver 750 homes up to 2037.

“At this stage we are consulting with residents on the suitability of potential sites across Bassetlaw and these conversations are extremely important to the development of the Draft Local Plan.

“The event that took place in Thievesdale this week was extremely well attended and all of the comments submitted by residents will be considered and will help to shape the next stage of the Local Plan process.

“We understand that residents have concerns and it is vital that they take a look at what is being proposed and have their say. This is an opportunity for them to voice their concerns and be part of the Local Plan consultation.”

The council said that under the plan, there are 750 homes planned for the site up to 2037 with another 750 after. However they added that any housing delivery on this site would not begin until at least 2026.

At least five hectares of employment land with an ambition of being able to accommodate green technologies are also planned for the site, the authority said. This will be located close to the existing employment land at Carlton Forest.

Addressing concerns that a link road between Blyth Road and Carlton Roads would cause traffic chaos and pollution, the council said: “This section of the plan proposes a new road that will link Blyth Road and Carlton Road, which will enhance bus, pedestrian and cycle links for the area.

“Evidence contained within the Draft Local Plan shows that this new road will significantly improve the flow of traffic in and around Worksop and alleviate the amount of traffic at the Blyth Road / Kilton Hill junction and the ‘Cannon Crossroads’ junction.”

And in response to concerns over the impact the development would have on the Long Plantation area at the rear of the site which is home to wildlife and protected species, the council said: “This proposal respects the existing woodland which will be retained, including Long Plantation. In addition to keeping this mature woodland, a 0.5 hectare ‘Community Woodland’ will also be created as part of the proposed development.

“Prior to any development commencing, and as part of any future planning applications, ecological surveys will take place to find out if there is any protected wildlife on the site.”

To view the plans for Peaks Hill Farm in full click HERE.