COUNCIL'S PREFERRED OPTION FOR MALVERN HOUSING CENTRED ON REGISTERED NATIONAL HERITAGE SITE!

12.00.00am GMT Tue 3rd Mar 2009

Council proposals to put 500 houses and 7 hectares of employment land East of Mayfield Road would surround a registered national heritage site with modern development, claimed local Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt.

Mr Burt attended a public consultation on the plans held at St Mary's Church Hall in Sherrard's Green Road last Friday.

"Slap bang in the middle of the proposed development area is Moat Court, a registered national heritage site of considerable historical significance," said Richard.

"The land surrounding Moat Court has ridge and furrow fields and has been preserved with ancient spring lines, water courses and ditches that would be built over if the development went ahead.

"Madresfield Estate has correspondence relating to Moat Court that goes right back to Henry Eight.

"A proposal to build a bund and leave a narrow green buffer around the site sounds like an act of heritage vandalism to me.

"The truth is there is nowhere appropriate for the council to shoehorn in these excessive housing numbers without significant damage to the unique amenity that Malvern has to offer."