Plans to construct 30 new homes in the Cotswold village of Willersey have been approved despite longstanding concerns about the village’s overwhelmed sewage infrastructure. Residents report that the sewage system often fails, sometimes preventing them from using their toilets for up to 48 hours.
Eagle One Homes received outline permission to build the development north of Folly View on Broadway Road, including parking, public open space, and sustainable drainage. The proposal faced strong opposition at a Cotswold District Council planning committee meeting, where hundreds voiced their worries.
Local resident Roger Webb highlighted the ongoing sewage and flooding issues that have plagued Willersey for over a decade, urging the council to reject the plans. He noted recent emergency measures by Severn Trent Water, including the deployment of road tankers and temporary holding tanks to prevent the Badsey Lane Pumping Station from being overwhelmed after heavy rain.
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District Councillor Tom Stowe emphasized that the sewage network is already unfit for the existing homes, let alone new developments. He described firsthand experiences of dangerous pressure buildup in the system, with manhole covers blown off and raw sewage flooding streets and gardens. The resulting contamination poses serious health and safety risks, with residents sometimes unable to flush their toilets for prolonged periods.
Willersey Parish Councillor Jane Rintoul added that the village, home to around 900 people and 495 houses, has seen significant growth in recent years without corresponding infrastructure improvements. She expressed concerns about local amenities, including a closed shop, full school facilities, limited public transport, and reliance on distant healthcare services.
Representing Eagle One Homes, Ed Leeson stated that the development is a modest, contained extension of the village rather than an isolated expansion. He noted the original plan for 50 homes was reduced to 30 and stressed that the drainage strategy, developed in collaboration with local flood authorities and Severn Trent Water, aims to avoid increasing flood risk.
Despite vocal objections, the Cotswold District Council planning committee approved the scheme by a majority vote, pending no objections from Gloucestershire County Council, the lead flood authority.