Anti-flats campaigner applies to build block

A MAN who acted as the prime mover in a campaign against more flats in his area has submitted a planning application to demolish his house and build a four-storey block on the site.

Chris Rotsey has provoked outrage among residents in Buckhurst Hill with his proposal to build ten flats, at 2 Westbury Road, but has defended his application as "entirely appropriate".

Mr Rotsey said: "We know we have to keep things in proportion. I'm friends with my neighbours and we have gone to great steps to make it fit in. We have gone for a modern design we think is quite attractive."

In 1999 Mr Rotsey helped organise a local campaign to stop the demolition of two houses in nearby Palmerston Road when a developer threatend to build 12 flats there.

But he has denied there is any contradiction between his former attitude and current application.

He said: "That house was a colossal increase in density and I objected to it. I'm not proposing anything outrageous. There's no comparison with the other plan."

His application has so far attracted more than 80 letters of complaint.

Among the objectors are Buckhurst Hill Community Association, which is based at Bedford House - next door to the development.

Association office administrator Joyce Clayton said: "Apart from the parking problem, which is terrible now and will be exacerbated by more flats, it's very out of keeping with the other Victorian houses in the road.

"We are also concerned that if they dig down to create the underground car park we don't know what will happen. The ground is clay and we have a pump in our own basement to remove water."

Buckhurst Hill Residents Society member Chris Marshall has organised a petition against Mr Rotsey's plans.

He said: "It seems to be a trend to take ordinary houses, knock them down, and build flats.

"We need to so something to stop this proliferation and its effect on our lifestyles. I've lived here 24 years. It's a really nice place and it's getting spoiled. This man was the prime mover in rejecting flats across the road. It's ridiculous."

The parish council has objected to the plans.

Councillor Peter Sinfield [Liberal Democrat], chairman of the town council's planning and environment committee, said: "This particular development would represent quite a distinctive step in terms of planning. If it goes through there could be a number of other houses which could come forward with plans for development."

Despite the opposition Mr Rotsey is confident of success and added that if his plans are turned down by the district council he will appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, in Bristol.

He said: "They can't just turn it down because people don't like it, they have to do it on valid grounds. I believe that working with planning officers has allowed us to come up with something for which people can have no technical objections. It's just they don't like to see a pretty house knocked down."