Plans for 30 new homes on the outskirts of the village of Lea have been condemned by members of Lea School's governing body, the parish council, the village action group and many individual residents.Child safety and the increase in traffic are among the reasons many residents have given for objecting to the plan.

The Reverend Neil Patterson has written, on behalf of the governing body of Lea CS VA Primary School, to object to the outline planning application for 30 new residential homes, including 11 affordable properties, lodged with Herefordshire Council by Bell Homes. The governors' objections fall into two categories, these are that the development is too close to the school, leading to potential child protection issues, and that there would be an influx of pupils, although the school is full, leading to funding issues.

He said:?"We are therefore extremely concerned by the possibility that homes might come to exist within a few yards of the school site."

"The proposed new houses will be high above the school, overlooking the site, and giving us concern for possible noise pollution and security. The school would, sadly, feel obliged to install more secure fencing along the dividing line, greatly diminishing the present open and welcoming aspect of the school, quite apart from the impact on the new homes.

"Some of the home situations give rise to safeguarding concerns which the school monitors. It would alarm us considerably if such a home had a direct sight-line into the school playground. We are confident that Herefordshire Council do not need to be reminded of the seriousness of child protection as an issue."

One objector claimed that the development "pushed close to the road on the fringes of the building envelope of the village will look incongruous, unsightly and out of place."

Lea Parish Council's unanimous decision to object to the unwanted proposal was warmly welcomed by the Lea Action Group. "The verdict is undoubtedly the right one and we can only applaud it," says action group chair, Steve Banner.

For the full story please see this week's Ross Gazette.