Human Barrier Faces Developers

The May Day demonstration of people power at Northway Road followed a decade of deadlock between residents and developers who want to build two houses on land south of the private estate.

Yesterday morning, when the excavator turned up out of the blue, Sue Rivers, who lives two doors away from the building plot, defiantly stood in front of the digger as it was driven onto the grass verge towards the site.

She was immediately joined by half a dozen neighbours, who stood across the verge, guarding the proposed access to the housing land.

The excavator was backed down onto the road and the two builders retreated into their pick-up to make contact with their solicitor.

Police were called and, in a bid to resolve the issue, suggested both sides in the dispute negotiated through solicitors, rather than across a contested grass verge.

Soon afterwards the builders left with their excavator and residents returned to their homes or went to work.

The crux of the matter is access to the site off Northway Road, a private, unadopted highway. People living there insist their property deeds state that no changes can be made to the verges or road layout.

Most of the 51 households are members of the Northway Road Residents' Association, originally formed to draw up plans to celebrate the Queen's golden jubilee, but now taking on the fight against the new houses.

Two new trees planted for the jubilee are in the way of access to the site.

Residents' association chairman Robert Downing said planning permission for the two houses had been granted 10 years ago, but with a condition that developers had to negotiate access with the Northway Road residents.

For the full story, see the Gazette, May 2.