Downham Market councillors object to Railway Road house plans due to worries over environment and child safety
Councillors have objected to a 26-home development due to environmental and child safety concerns.
At the full Downham Town Council meeting on Tuesday evening, councillors discussed proposals from Degfont (UK) Ltd to construct the properties on land south of Railway Road.
The site borders an industrial estate and the Willows nature reserve - and councillors raised concerns about both.
An original planning application was for 32 homes, and although this has been reduced to 26, it has failed to ease worries.
Cllr Frank Daymond said: “This land is notorious for flooding, as it has been known to be called the ‘Fenland bog’.”
Cllr Tony Leach added: “It doesn’t matter what they do - the nature reserve won’t be there by the time they finish.
“So I would be opposed to any development in or around it, to be honest with you.”
Meanwhile, Cllr Jacqueline Westrop said the homes would result in “over-development”.
As well as the nature reserve, councillors also voiced concerns about the land’s close proximity to the Trafalgar industrial estate.
Cllr Barrie Wiles said that from what he can see, it would be the main access route to any homes on the land.
“It is a nightmare getting down there. Putting 26 houses down there is just not on,” he added.
“It is a danger for the children who will be playing within the industrial area if they get the chance, as there is no play area there as such apart from the Willows reserve.
“There is also a problem with blocking off the pond to prevent children falling in and dying.”
The town council voted to object to the plans, which are currently in the midst of a consultation phase.
It did so on official grounds of highways concerns, a lack of physical infrastructure capacity, potential damage to trees, and an adverse impact on nature conservation.
The consultation remains open until Wednesday, September 18, with West Norfolk Council currently considering the application.
