There were cheers last night as councillors threw out a “nonsense” plan to concrete over green spaces in Erith.

Residents’ group Save Wilde Road has been pressuring the council for months to block a scheme for 12 flats across two blocks on parcels of open land in Bronte Close and Wilde Road.

The council, which was proposing the application, had earmarked the area for redevelopment, bringing six affordable homes.

Neighbours desperate to protect their green spaces spoke last night at the packed planning meeting to oppose the council’s application, saying the estate was already at breaking point because of traffic and parking.

The project is one of several council plans to dispose of open spaces across the borough to kickstart its growth agenda.

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More than 160 objections were delivered to the council

This was the second attempt to push through the proposals, with the council coming back with a revamped application that included two more parking spaces than a previous plan.

For the 12 proposed homes, there were 14 parking spaces – an insufficient number in the eyes of councillors and campaigners.

Neighbours who carried out their own parking surveys pointed out what they said were discrepancies with the levels of available on-street parking and insufficient levels of amenity space left for the new residents.

Save Wilde Road organisers Chris Brown and Viv Waters said the application ignored planning and transport policies.

Mrs Waters said: “We aren’t against new homes, but if we have to lose that land then why can’t we have something that blends in?

“Are such a small amount of dwellings seriously so important that a whole community has had to be turned upside-down for over nine months and will cause even more arguments over parking.

“Given the application blatantly fails to meet guidelines, we would submit there is no option but to reject this application.”

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CGI of the Bronte Close development 

The neighbours’ survey of 158 homes revealed more than 280 cars and vans were already on the estate, which deals with traffic from the recently expanded Northumberland Heath School.

More than 150 people, including MP Teresa Pearce, objected to the application.

Councillors were told the scheme included much-needed affordable housing, more than is required by policy.

Ward councillor John Fuller said that if the application was approved, the levels of growth would mean more and more cars – turning Wilde Road into a “wild road”.

The councillor said: “Bronte and Wilde Road are packed with people, and families and cars. What we are going to do is pack that with more people, more families and more cars.

“For their living experience, I personally don’t think that is good. If we have to go there, lets enhance the area and keep traffic down – let’s keep people happy.”

Conservative councillor June Slaughter said the application was disappointing.

Cllr Slaughter said: “The amount of parking spaces proposed for a development of this sort is absolutely nonsense. The design, frankly is terribly bland, and does nothing for the area.

“We are trying to cram in numbers that I don’t think the site should support.”

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Bronte Close looking east

Cllr Nicola Taylor said the proposal was the council “negotiating with itself”, adding there needed to be more transparency.

She went on: “We have over 2,000 people living in temporary accommodation. It’s going to take 200 years to clear those temporary accommodations with this kind of housing – and that would probably take our open spaces. This is not an acceptable way out of the crisis.”

Despite the council’s officers recommending the plan be approved councillors on Bexley’s planning board unanimously rejected the application, to cheers from the public gallery.

After the meeting, Mrs Waters said: "I speak on behalf of the residents and thank our ward councillor John Fuller for his backing and support throughout this”.