ASTON Fields campaigners have been celebrating after plans to build 212 homes in their village were turned down by planning chiefs.

More than 100 villagers attended the meeting of Bromsgrove District Council’s planning committee, held at the Council House on Monday, (April 18).

Committee members debated the application by Mapelbrom LLP for the homes, ranging from one and two bedroom flats to four bedroom detached family homes, on land at the former Wagon Works, in St Godwald’s Road.

There were three speakers against the application including Hazelcroft Residents Association spokesman, Heather Dale, who said councillors should consider the “strength of feeling” against the application.

Last June the association launched its campaign and has since held meetings, called demonstrations and taken its case to town MP Sajid Javid.

Her words were applauded by those in the public gallery.

Peter Frampton from Framptons, planning consultants to Mapelbrom, told members it was clear there were strong views against, but this was not a valid reason for refusal.

Councillor Peter Whittaker, (Con-Tardebigge), was the first committee member to speak and he listed a number of reasons he was against, including that he “remained to be convinced” there was a need for housing and that schools were “oversubscribed”.

A string of councillors then spoke revealing they opposed granting permission for the application, despite officers recommending it be delegated to the head of planning and regeneration, minded to approve.

Councillors were particularly critical of the highways agency, saying suggested highway improvement works were inadequate for the expected increase in the volume of traffic.

Coun Whittaker said the recommended removal of on-street parking in Stoke Road would be an “unmitigated disaster” as residents would need to find somewhere else to park.

Alvechurch councillor Jean Luck said she was fed up of the agency continually saying “no objection” to applications, and said she felt Bromsgrove needs houses but “not at any cost”.

After the vote, in which all members voted against, members of public wildly applauded.

The public gallery then virtually emptied. After the meeting resumed the committee then debated the reasons for refusal as officers stressed they needed valid planning reasons. Members decided to turn down the application on the grounds of lack of infrastructure, and highways issues.

After the meeting, Peter Frampton told the Advertiser/Messenger he fully expected the client, Mapelbrom, to appeal.