PROPOSALS for a 340-home development on prime agricultural land have been given a decisive thumbs down by Isle residents.
A group of people living in Epworth, who are opposed to the development on land to the north of the town's Station Road, organised a protest petition and in a matter of weeks have collected a total of 513 signatures.
"This is the third time the r
esidents of Epworth have voted against proposals for a massive expansion of the town. It's high time people behind the latest scheme took notice," said a spokesman.
He was referring to a proposal by the owners of the land to seek planning permission for the massive housing estate - in return for them providing the town with a new doctors' health centre.
One of the six landowners is Epworth businessman Colin Parker, who organised a questionnaire last summer that was placed in all South Axholme Practice surgeries. The outcome of his survey has yet to be announced.
However, Isle MP Ian Cawsey organised his own independent poll and that showed that 80 per cent of the respondents were totally against the proposal.
At the time Mr Cawsey said: "It was a clear view in the responses I received that the idea of more development was not supported, even if part of the proceeds would be reinvested in a new health centre for the area."
Epworth Town Council has also voiced its opposition to the proposal to build the housing estate on the farmland.
In February 2007 North Lincolnshire Council organised an Ipsos Mori poll survey on the future of Epworth and it showed that the vast majority of people and businesses in the town did not want to see a massive development of the area.
The council took this into account when it produced its Local Development Framework – Government required proposals for a 15 year period - for the area as a whole and did not include any major development proposals for Epworth.
"We're totally behind the council's proposals for Epworth as they do not include any major developments for the town," added the spokesman.
They had also organised a protest public meeting last year - attended
by about 140 people – and here it was announced they would be organising the protest petition.
Results show some 513 people signed the petition and 390 of them - 76 per cent - were Epworth residents.
"Copies were left at local shops, so there was no pressure on people to sign," the spokesman continued. "We thank the owner of Oceans 52, Lowe's Newsagents and Setlten's Stores for their help."
Later this month the council will be publishing the final draft of its Local Development Framework for public consultation. The Epworth residents group plans to submit its petition to the council for inclusion in the comments on its proposals, which will then be submitted to the Secretary of State.
