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Beware Persimmon - Perfidious Persimmon not Albion
(February 05, 2011)Persimmon
Homes will no longer be forced to honour their pledges and promises is
the clear message to local communities as councillors old and new
reveal that Warminster will now be easy pickings for developers.
A
letter to the journal from former planning councillor John
Syme reveals that Persimmon promised to
make a financial contribution towards Princecroft School.
Front
page coverage in the same newspaper the previous week had pictures of cllr Pip Ridout
complaining that Persimmon Homes had not coughed up promised cash for
road safety measures in the neighbouring area.
Locals
led by Steve Dancey have launched campaign to dissuade the public from
buying from Persimmon and a video has been filmed for You Tube.
"I
am appalled about all of this." says former councillor Paul Macdonald.
"I recognised although I still fought against it that any housing
development would have to be in the west of Warminster if anywhere.
"As the result of the work that John (Syme) and I put in a rural buffer zone was established around the town
"I
also had many conversations with councillors and officers as Chairman
of the governors at Princecroft School as impending expansion was
proposed.
"When
the major development of this part of the town was threatened I warned
we would need at least another secondary school and help to both the
closest schools."
Persimmon
Homes latest money-grabbing upset to the the locals is their planning
application to demolish Albion House in Victoria Road having made their
money out of the land behind.
"I
suppose some will say does this matter?'' says Paul. "It does but also
now for every every town where Persimmon Homes raise their standard.
"They
knew what they were doing, I am sure, by not including Albion House in
their original back-land development proposal which destroys the street
scene that makes towns like Warminster special.
"This is known as a retrospective application which we know is a retrograde step.
"What
we now need is two towns, then another two towns, to share their
experiences of the planning sleight of hand that developers use to get
maximum profit at minimum community commitment.
"And
then challenge our MP to stand by the idea of the 'Big Society' in
allowing our communties that privilege that Persimmon Homes have. The
right of appeal against an unfavourable decision!"