Residents oppose flat development (From News Shopper)

Residents oppose flat development

11:37am Tuesday 10th May 2005

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HUNDREDS of furious residents have signed a petition against plans for a "ludicrous" housing development on the former Army and Navy site.

Legal and General are behind the application to build one seven-storey block and two nine-storey blocks on Ringers Road in Bromley town centre.

Plans for 204 studio flats with between one and three bedrooms and space for 30 cars and 210 cycles are currently being considered by the council.

More than 300 residents have signed the petition against the development which they say will be "a blight on the landscape".

They say the blocks will increase traffic congestion and stretch basic services such as access to doctors and schools.

Melanie Hughes, 32, of nearby Ravensbourne Road, says the multi-storey development will overlook her home, invading her privacy and blocking out her light.

She says there are only 13 all-day resident parking bays in the area at present and this is inadequate.

She added: "This development is ludicrous. Commuters and shoppers are queuing up every morning to compete with residents for parking spaces.

"It is a parking nightmare which will become a parking hell."

Around 450 residents are expected to move into the area if the development goes ahead.

Schoolteacher Miss Hughes said: "Schools are already oversubscribed. Additional children could increase big problems."

Another Ravensbourne resident said: "Doctors are so over-stretched. You would have to be dying to get an appointment within the week."

Jeremy Castle, Planning Manager at Legal & General, said: "There has been a shortfall in new housing development in Bromley in recent years. Our scheme will help to meet this requirement.

"We have limited the number of car parking spaces, which will encourage residents to use alternative means of transport.

The plans, which were first submitted in February, will be discussed at a Bromley Council Development Control meeting due to take place early this summer, although no date has yet been confirmed.

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