'They want to build a small estate' claim residents at village near Bedford

Thurleigh residents were out in force to protest against a development of 20 houses on the edge of the village.
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An application for the homes adjacent to the High Street were first submitted in April this year. But villagers are worried about traffic and the 20-home plan could expand.

One resident, Georgina McMahon who has lived in Thurleigh for two years, said: "They want to build a small estate.

"I believe the new planning application of 20 houses outside the village boundary will be phase one of eventually 90 houses.

Protesters at ThurleighProtesters at Thurleigh
Protesters at Thurleigh

"If you put those houses into perspective of cars and traffic. Many homes have two cars, plus their weekend guests. Now you can imagine the traffic within Thurleigh whose villagers already feel the pain of being used as a rat-run."

She added: "There are developments currently happening within the village, such as apartments in a disused chapel. And speculative developments totally around 20 houses just off the high street within the village centre.

"So I really don’t understand why we need to extend the village boundary and eat into our beautiful green fields, much loved by Thurleigh villagers and dog walkers. Especially when there are plenty of suitable sites (including brown field sites) within the village boundary.

"None of the villagers I have talked to want this development, we don’t have any amenities. And if we got 100 houses it will not be enough to sustain a village shop. Services such as the local doctors' surgery are stretched. Even our pub closed down and was turned into a house."

Residents have also complained about traffic and speeds recorded of up to 70mph in a 30mph zone as well as near misses with children.

Adam Zerny, standing as an Independent candidate in the general election, visited the village to see the land. He said: "There is clearly huge local opposition to this unwanted intrusion into the Bedfordshire countryside. This is happening everywhere and residents are quite right to argue against it."

Bedford Borough Council is yet to make a decision on the application, which has attracted more than 20 objections.

Residents have launched a petition against the development and this can be found in Thurleigh Social Club. For full details of the application, visit the website.

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