The application for 662 dwellings in Ashingdon, has tonight, been refused a meeting of the development committee.
20/00363/OUT
Application here https://bit.ly/2SpVMa9
LAND EAST OF ASHINGDON ROAD AND NORTH OF ROCHFORD GARDEN WAY, ROCHFORD OUTLINE APPLICATION FOR THE DEMOLITION OF NOS. 148 AND 150 ASHINGDON ROAD, REMOVAL OF HIGHWAY
TREE AND FORM ACCESS ONTO ASHINGDON ROAD, FORM SECONDARY ACCESS ONTO PERCY COTTIS ROAD
TO SERVE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF 662 DWELLINGS AND COMMUNITY BUILDING WITH ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE. DETAILS OF PHASE 1 OF 223 DWELLINGS TO CONSIDER ACCESS, LAYOUT, APPEARANCE, SCALE AND LANDSCAPING. DETAILS OF PHASE 2 AND 3 TO CONSIDER ACCESS AND LAYOUT ONLY.
In an evening that Andrew Lloyd Webber would have been proud of, Councillors and local MP, Mark Francois gave their views performances on mainly why the application should be refused. Despite Councillors receiving legal advice prior to the meeting and again during the meeting, Councillors decided to refuse the application on what essentially the definition of the word ‘severe’ is.
The vicechair and portfolio holder for finance appeared very nervous about the refusal and we suspect has recognised the refusal could mean an expensive evening out for the Council and ultimately the taxpayer. With the huge amount of pressure by campaign groups and it appears this time, that people before pounds has been given the priority in the decision making process, for now at least.
How the Councillors voted
| Councillor | For Refusal | Against Refusal | Abstained |
| Adrian Eves (RDR) | Yes | ||
| Lesley Butcher (CON) | Yes | ||
| Daniel Efdes (CON) | Yes | ||
| Elileen Gadstone (CON) | Yes | ||
| Jack Lawmon (IND) | Yes | ||
| David Merrick (CON) | Yes | ||
| Lisa Newport (RDR) | Yes | ||
| Laureen Shaw (CON) | Yes | ||
| Phil Shaw (CON) | Yes | ||
| Simon Smith (CON) | Yes | ||
| Chris Stanley (LIB) | Yes | ||
| Carole Weston (CON) | Yes | ||
| Arthur Williams (CON) | Yes |