Today, Geoffrey met with residents in Winkleigh to hear local concerns about plans for 78 new properties on land west of Townsend Road.
Geoffrey remains deeply sympathetic to the community’s apprehensions, and has vowed to oppose disproportionate expansions by developers seeking to take advantage of Torridge District Council’s lack of five-year housing supply.
Addressing a packed village hall, Geoffrey said:
“I've known Winkleigh for many years and I've seen how it's developed and how it's borne the brunt of development. Winkleigh is not alone in Torridge, I’m afraid. There are other villages facing disproportionate expansions in the housing stock of Torridge. For example, I’m in Parkham this week... they're facing the village growing by half in three years. I've raised Parkham with the planning authorities, as I do believe that there's a very strong argument that that is a disproportionate expansion within a three-year period, on roads not designed for a larger village.
“Winkleigh is facing an expansion of over 200, depending on what does and doesn't receive permission, but on any view that is going to place a strain on the infrastructure of the village and on its roads system… We will place the most persuasive force we can on the council to resist this particular application.”
