Council has ignored villagers over homes plan

The recent announcement that East Ridings Western area sub-planning committee has given the go-ahead to 23 affordable homes in Holme on Spalding Moor against the considerable opposition of local residents is beyond belief, considering that more than 60 per cent of villagers said no.

There is absolutely no question that Holme needs some affordable houses for local families, however it is not a case of “not in my back yard” but the location of the estate that is the problem, being that it will be located on the edge of the village away from local facilities and bus routes and even more to the point, will extend the village even further into green belt land, especially when there is other land readily available.

I originally supported the concept of the affordable homes when they were going to be built nearer to the centre of the village in a location that made common sense – however, when that proposed site fell through and the Sands Lane site was announced, I withdrew my support because of the reasons above.

What has annoyed me is the complete indifference of the East Riding Council planning committee to local residents’ justifiable protests. I always assumed that East Riding council was supposed to work for and with us, yet it appears that is not the case. If the estate goes ahead, it will no doubt create a good deal of resentment towards both the council and possibly those who will eventually live in the houses.

It would appear yet again that elected members of our society are forgetting that they were elected to serve us, and not to dictate to us. There are sound reasons why this location is flawed, yet they have chosen to ignore them.

With the forthcoming May elections and the emergence of the East Yorkshire Independence Party, maybe it will mean that we have a chance at last to elect representatives who are willing to serve the people and not become part of a bureaucratic giant that has become complacent and unaccountable to its voters.